He grew up in Groß Lindow, a village close to Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg.

Although he started out as a highly successful swimmer, he was asked to leave the team due to his refusal as to enroll at the sports grammar school.

However, his early career ended abruptly after he was expected to join the local sport grammar school again, which was the only way to continue his training.

During this period the Team won 2 World Championships in the U 23 Class with Gerald Ciolek and Peter Velits.

In 2006, he and his wife Sandra Schweda (née Piplow) founded the Indoor Kletterwald in the Nova Eventis [de].