21-Year-Old Kregor Zirk Re-Sets Estonian 200 FR Record at 1:47.06 in Stockholm

2021 SWIM OPEN STOCKHOLM

• April 8-11, 2021
• Eriksdalsbadet, Stockholm, Sweden
• LCM Format (50m)
• Start Times (Local Time): Heats: 9:30 AM, B/C Finals: 4:30 PM, A Finals: 6 PM
• FINA Olympic Qualifying Standards
• Meet Site
• Live Results
• Live Stream (Available for €4.99/Session)

During day two prelims of the 2021 Swim Open Stockholm, 21-year-old Kregor Zirk re-set his own Estonian national record in the 200-meter free, dropping nearly a full second from his lifetime best. Zirk led prelims with a 1:47.06, taking down former national record of 1:47.99 from the 2021 Turkish LCM Open Meet in late March. Zirk is now the 67th-fastest performer in European history.

Zirk currently trains in Turkey with Tom Rushton again after the Energy Standard training group hit paused in January 2021 due to travel restrictions preventing them from meeting at the Gloria Sports Arena in Antalya. With Zirk’s move to the Turkey-based Fenerbahce club in February 2021, Zirk also became the 2nd-fastest Baltic States performer (EST, LAT, LTU) in history, only behind Lithuanian Danas Rapsys (1:44.38). Before breaking the 1:48-barrier in 2021, Zirk’s pre-pandemic personal best was 1:48.51 from the 2019 World Championships, which placed 26th overall.

Zirk also holds LCM national records in the 400 free (3:51.12), 800 free (8:23.12), and 200 fly (1:58.04) as well as SCM records in the 200 free (1:43.44), 400 free (3:42.12), 800 free (7:55.05), 100 fly (50.64), and 200 fly (1:52.25). All SCM records except the 800 free were set while Zirk was competing with ISL’s Energy Standard.

At the time of his morning effort, Zirk’s time ranks 21st in the world for the 2020-2021 season. He also currently ranks 11th in Europe for the 2021 calendar year. Finals are set to being at 6 PM local time/11 AM Central time.