tˈɜːnɪŋ pɹəfˈɛʃənəl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks æɾ ˈeɪdʒ twˈɛnti tˈuː wɪððə dʒˈaɪəntɔːstɹˈeɪliən ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt ʌv spˈoːɹt tˈiːm ˌʌndɚ ðə dʒˈaɪəntˈeɪ.ˈaɪ.ˈɛs. spˈoːɹts dᵻɹˈɛktɚ ænd ɔːstɹˈeɪliən nˈæʃənəl kˈoʊtʃ, dʒˈɜːmən bˈɔːɹn hˈaɪkoʊ sˈæltswɛdəl.
Turning professional in 1996 at age 22 with the Giant-Australian Institute of Sport team under the GIANT-A.I.S. Sports Director and Australian National Coach, German born Heiko Salzwedel.