Kreek threw an Estonian record mark of in Karlstad in 1938 – this made him the second-best athlete in that world that year (his highest ever ranking). In his career he would go on to break this mark twice more: in 1939 he threw before reaching a lifetime best distance of that same year. His greatest achievement occurred in this period as he represented Estonia at the 1938 European Athletics Championships in Paris and won the European title in a championship record of . Again he was following on from his compatriot Arnold Viiding, who was the champion at the inaugural 1934 edition. Despite this early success, Kreek and Viiding remain the only Estonians to have won the European shot put title. For his achievement he was given the Order of the White Star (III class), in recognition of his services to Estonia through sport.