| Venue: Moskva Canoeing and Rowing Basin. |
| Final A | time | | 1. Pertti Karppinen |  Finland | 7:09.61 | | 2. Vasil Yakusha |  Soviet Union | 7:11.66 | | 3. Peter Kersten |  East Germany | 7:14.88 | | 4. Vladek Lacina |  Czechoslovakia | 7:17.57 | | 5. Hans Svensson |  Sweden | 7:19.38 | | 6. Hugh Matheson |  Great Britain | 7:20.28 | | Final B | time | | 7. Bernard Destraz |  Switzerland | 7:19.90 | | 8. Konstatinos Kontomanolis |  Greece | 7:20.29 | | 9. Lajos Odor |  Hungary | 7:23.30 | | 10.Chavdar Radoev |  Bulgaria | 7:23.50 | | 11.Raimund Schmidt |  Austria | 7:29.16 | | 12.Paulo Cesar Dvorawski |  Brazil | 7:32.00 |
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| | | First 3 from each Semi advanced to Final. Rest to F |
| Semi 1 | time | | | 1. Peter Kersten | East Germany | 7:11.99 | QA | | 2. Vasil Yakusha | Soviet Union | 7:15.14 | QA | | 3. Hugh Matheson | Great Britain | 7:21.05 | QA | | 4. Lajos Odor | Hungary | 7:32.94 | QB | | 5. Raimund Schmidt | Austria | 7:38.50 | QB | | 6. Paulo Cesar Dvorawski | Brazil | 7:39.28 | QB | | Semi 2 | time | | | 1. Pertti Karppinen | Finland | 7:15.90 | QA | | 2. Vladek Lacina | Czechoslovakia | 7:18.66 | QA | | 3. Hans Svensson | Sweden | 7:19.66 | QA | | 4. Konstatinos Kontomanolis | Greece | 7:23.15 | QB | | 5. Bernard Destraz | Switzerland | 7:33.87 | QB | | 6. Chavdar Radoev | Bulgaria | 7:34.21 | QB |
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| | | First 3 from advanced to Semi-Finals. Rest were eliminated. |
| Repechage | time | | | 1. Bernard Destraz | Switzerland | 7:25.97 | Q | | 2. Lajos Odor | Hungary | 7:27.49 | Q | | 3. Chavdar Radoev | Bulgaria | 7:28.96 | Q | | 4. Didier Gallet |  France | 7:32.81 | | 5. Arturo Salfran |  Cuba | 7:51.84 |
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| Quarter 1 | time | | | 1. Hugh Matheson | Great Britain | 7:53.22 | Q | | 2. Konstatinos Kontomanolis | Greece | 7:55.61 | Q | | 3. Paulo César Dworakowski | Brazil | 8:01.38 | Q | | 4. Didier Gallet | France | 8:04.41 | R | | 5. Arturo Salfran | Cuba | 8:25.09 | R | | Quarter 2 | time | | | 1. Pertti Karppinen | Finland | 7:43.80 | Q | | 2. Peter Kersten | East Germany | 7:49.01 | Q | | 3. Vladek Lacina | Czechoslovakia | 7:53.24 | Q | | 4. Bernard Destraz | Switzerland | 7:59.81 | R | | 5. Chavdar Radev | Bulgaria | 8:04.96 | R | | Quarter 3 | time | | | 1. Vasil Yakusha | Soviet Union | 7:47.15 | Q | | 2. Hans Svensson | Sweden | 7:57.33 | Q | | 3. Raimund Schmidt | Austria | 8:07.02 | Q | | 4. Lajos Ódor | Hungary | 8:14.24 | R |
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| Final Ranking | Quarter | Repech | Semi | Final | | 1. Pertti Karppinen | Finland | 7:43.80 | Bye | 7:15.90 | 7:09.61 | | 2. Vasil Yakusha | Soviet Union | 7:47.15 | Bye | 7:15.14 | 7:11.66 | | 3. Peter Kersten | East Germany | 7:49.01 | Bye | 7:11.99 | 7:14.88 | | 4. Vladek Lacina | Czechoslovakia | 7:53.24 | Bye | 7:18.66 | 7:17.57 | | 5. Hans Svensson | Sweden | 7:57.33 | Bye | 7:19.66 | 7:19.38 | | 6. Hugh Matheson | Great Britain | 7:53.22 | Bye | 7:21.05 | 7:20.28 | | 7. Bernard Destraz | Switzerland | 7:59.81 | 7:25.97 | 7:33.87 | 7:19.90 B | | 8. Konstatinos Kontomanolis | Greece | 7:55.61 | Bye | 7:23.15 | 7:20.29 B | | 9. Lajos Odor | Hungary | 8:14.24 | 7:27.49 | 7:32.94 | 7:23.30 B | | 10.Chavdar Radoev | Bulgaria | 8:04.96 | 7:28.96 | 7:34.21 | 7:23.50 B | | 11.Raimund Schmidt | Austria | 8:07.02 | Bye | 7:38.50 | 7:29.16 B | | 12.Paulo Cesar Dvorawski | Brazil | 8:01.38 | Bye | 7:39.28 | 7:32.00 B | | 13.Didier Gallet | France | 8:04.41 | 7:32.81 | Did not advance | | 14.Arturo Salfran | Cuba | 8:25.09 | 7:51.84 | Did not advance |
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