Canoeing at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Women's K-1 500 metres

The women's K-1 500 metres event was an individual kayaking event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1976 Summer Olympics program.

Medalists

emifinals

The top three finishers in each of the three semifinals (raced on July 30) advanced to the final.

Final

The final was held on July 30.

East German boat designers spent a month studying the Olympic course in Montreal before returning home to construct fiberglass canoes and kayaks that curved inward when placed in the water, allowing them to become longer and faster. Zirzow used one of those kayaks to make up for a poor start in the final to win gold.

References

* [http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1976/1976v3.pdf 1976 Summer Olympics official report Volume 3.] pp. 169. en icon & fr icon
* [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1976/CAN/womens-kayak-singles-500-metres.html Sports-reference.com 1976 women's K-1 500 m results.]
*Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Canoeing: Women's Kayak Singles 500 Meters". In "The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition". London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 491.