Judo Star Teddy Riner Launches Bid for French President
French judo star Teddy Riner, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, said on Monday he will run in France's 2027 presidential election as a candidate neither left nor right. He still needs 500 sponsorship signatures from elected officials, and analysts call him a long shot.
Judo star Teddy Riner, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, announced on Monday that he will run in France's presidential election next year. The 37-year-old said he is neither left-wing nor right-wing and wants to "bring people together".
He made the announcement in a video on social media and in an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien. The vote to replace President Emmanuel Macron is due in April and May.
Analysts describe Riner as a long shot. He has no political experience and no party backing.
A crowded, polarized race
The race has been shaping up as a contest between political extremes. Polls point to a hollowing out of the centre, with National Rally leader Marine Le Pen the front-runner and radical-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon behind her.
Riner must first collect 500 sponsorship signatures from elected officials, as French law requires. Other hopefuls include two former prime ministers under Macron.
"I know what people are going to say about me: 'He's crazy. He's not from the establishment. He doesn't have the codes. He's never done politics,'" Riner said in his video.
He pointed to soaring debt, rising grocery prices and the precarious futures of people without the right network, family name or skin colour. "If refusing to bow my head and refusing the chaos makes me crazy, then yes, I'm completely crazy," he said.
Divisions and protests
Riner said he sees no candidate offering a vision that unites rather than divides. "There is no one today offering genuine, sincere hope. It's always one side against another," he told Le Parisien.
The announcement comes amid protests over the cost of living and demonstrations by schoolchildren over crumbling, crowded classrooms. About six weeks ago, Riner faced a wave of racist abuse online after telling a TV sports show he felt "anxiety" about the rise of the far right. French authorities said in September they were investigating.
Riner was born in Guadeloupe and grew up in Paris. He has often been voted France's most popular sportsperson, and he lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He said that experience inspired him: "I saw a whole country come together, proud, happy."
Judo and the presidency
Riner has said he wants to end his career with a fourth individual Olympic gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Asked whether running meant giving that up, he said no, "not if my duties as president allow it and the French people give me their blessing".
He would not be the first judoka in French politics. David Douillet was elected to parliament in 2009 and served as sports minister from September 2011 to May 2012.
Asked about his first move on the world stage, Riner said he wants France to work well with its allies and command more respect. "A lot of people around me have been talking about my first handshake with Donald Trump," he said, laughing. "We'll see who has the firmer handshake."
