His 2005 season was highlighted by a 200 m and 4 × 100 metres relay silver medal double at the 2005 European Athletics U23 Championships. He also made his first appearance at the World Championships in Athletics that year, but was eliminated in the quarter-finals. He began the following year by helping Germany to third in the Swedish medley relay at the 2006 European Athletics Indoor Cup. He claimed his first national title with a win at the German Athletics Championships and represented his country in the event at the 2006 European Athletics Championships, reaching the semi-finals. In the relay event, he finished fifth with teammates Alexander Kosenkow, Marius Broening and Ronny Ostwald.