Kaarel Kiiver achieved a remarkable victory at the Estonian indoor rowing championships held at the Narva sports center by breaking the national record that had stood for nearly 20 years, previously held by rowing legend Tõnu Endrekson. Kiiver's time of 5:46.1 not only won him the national title but also set a new benchmark in Estonian rowing history, eclipsing Endrekson's time of 5:46.7. This significant achievement reflects the ongoing evolution of competitive rowing within Estonia and underscores Kiiver's emerging status as the best indoor rower in the nation's history.

The event was characterized by high-level performances, with numerous personal records being achieved by other competitors as well. Kiiver's personal record prior to this accomplishment was 5:52, marking an impressive improvement of 5.9 seconds with his new record. During his victory speech, Kiiver expressed that the outcome was not unexpected given the competitive environment of the season, indicating that several athletes had been on the cusp of breaking Estonian records. He attributed his success to consistent hard work, perseverance, and a bit of luck in both his athletic and personal life.

Following his success at the championships, Kiiver shared his plans to continue training, having recently returned from a training camp in Italy and now preparing for further competitions in Croatia. His commitment to improving his performance and pursuing excellence in rowing hints at a bright future for both him and the sport of rowing in Estonia, as he seeks to defend and further develop his new national record in the face of increasing competition.