The 1989 season was the peak of his career. He won his first national title at the East German Athletics Championships with a meet record throw of . He was the bronze medallist at both the 1989 European Cup and 1989 IAAF World Cup, with Steve Backley being the winner at both events. He ended the year second on the European rankings to Backley, courtesy of a lifetime best performance of in Macerata, which made him the fourth best athlete in the world in 1989.