He emerged in 2001 with a win at the 2001 European Athletics U23 Championships and second place at the 2001 Summer Universiade. He established himself on the senior circuit with a bronze medal at the 2002 European Athletics Championships. He was fifth at the 2004 Athens Olympics and won a series of medals in 2005, including silver medals at the European Race Walking Cup and Mediterranean Games and a gold medal at the Summer Universiade. His last major medal on the continental scene came at the Mediterranean Games, where he was the 20 km walk bronze medallist.