Born in Edmonton, London, he began competing in throwing events as a teenager as a young member of Enfield and Haringey Athletic Club. In 1984 he was the champion in the shot put in the under-17s AAA section (outdoors and indoors) and the intermediate category champion at the English Schools Championships. He improved the following year to take the discus throw title at the AAA Outdoor Junior Championships, the shot put at the under-19s English Schools competition. He took a AAA indoor title in the shot put in 1986 and also retained his schools title. Internationally, he competed in the discus at the 1985 European Athletics Junior Championships, being eliminated in the qualifying round. He also competed in the shot put at the inaugural 1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics, placing twelfth overall.