When I joined the Bundeswehr's sports promotion group in 1990 and was in the Federal squad of the German Sailing Association in the Olympic Finn Dinghy boat class, the conditions for training and competitions improved enormously, so that I began a systematic build-up for the Summer Olympics. In 1996, I took part for the first time in the Olympic Games in Atlanta participated. This was followed in 2000 and 2004 by participation in the games in Sydney and Athens.

Other successes included third place at the European Cup (1989), fourth place at the European Championships in Quiberon (1990), German vice-champion (1993), six times international German champion (1994, 1998 - 2001, 2005), two tenth (1995, 1996) and one fourth place (1999) at the European Championships as well as two seventh (1995 and 1999), one ninth (1998) and one tenth place (1997) at the World Championships. I came first (2001) and second (2002) at the Kieler Woche. From 1994 onwards, I topped the German Finn rankings in first place and was always in the top ten in the world rankings. In 2005, I was runner-up world champion in the J-80 class with my crew as helmsman.

During my many years as an active competitive athlete, I also underwent several stages of training to become a sailing coach: in 1989 I became a C (F license) and C trainer, in 1992 a national trainer with a B license and in 2003 a national trainer with an A license. I have been a co-trainer for the Bavarian Sailing Association since 1989 and an honorary trainer for the German Sailing Association since 2001.

In 2004, I began my studies at the Sports University (Trainer Academy of the German Sports Confederation) in Cologne and graduated in 2006 with a degree in coaching from the DSB. At the same time, I completed two further diplomas in club management and sports marketing at the sports university.

From July 2006 to September 2011, I worked as a national coach at the German Sailing Association's central training base in Kiel-Schilksee. During this time, I was in charge of the women's windsurfers, Laser Standard, women's match racing and the Finn class.

This was followed by 4.5 years as club manager of the German Touring Yacht Club and two years as Bavarian state coach.

At the beginning of 2017, I took the plunge into self-employment, fulfilling a long-standing dream. Now I pass on my in-depth knowledge, my many years of experience and my passion as a professional sailing coach.