He began competing at the senior level soon after and took part in the 2006 European Championships, where he just missed the qualifying mark in the earlier round of the competition.

He was fourth at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final and then was second at the European Winter Throwing Cup the following year.

He finished fourth with a throw of 67.09 m. He closed the season with a bronze medal at the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final.

The final remaining competitor and leader since the 1st round, Polish athlete Piotr Małachowski, was unable to better the German's throw.

He improved his personal best in Neubrandenburg in a one-on-one competition against Małachowski, taking the win with a throw of 69.69 m.[1] He defended his world title at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics with a winning mark of 68.97 m. In May 2012, Harting threw a personal best of 70.31 m at the Hallesche Werfertage Meeting, clearing seventy metres for the first time.