2008 and 2009 would be marked by fruitful indoor seasons and fruitless outdoor seasons. He finished fourth in the final at the 2008 World Indoor Championships with a mark of 17.27 metres, but after with Fabio Martella he won the gold medal at the 2009 European Indoor Championships with a mark of 17.59 metres. These two marks were the season's best of the respective years. 17.59 was also a new championship record for the European Indoor Championships. In comparison, he only managed 16.91 outdoors in 2008 and only 15.81 outdoors in 2009. He had unsuccessful participations at the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2009 World Championships.