He established his place among the world's top throwers with a win at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships, winning the gold medal with a throw of . He did not match this form outdoors that year, but still managed a number of podium finishes on the 2011 IAAF Diamond League circuit (Shanghai, Stockholm and Zürich). His best outdoor throw of the year came at the 2012 United States Olympic Trials, where his mark of 21.66 m brought him second place behind Reese Hoffa. Representing the United States at the Olympics for the first time, he reached his second outdoor global final, this time placing ninth with a mark of 20.64 m.