Teddy Riner announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election on Nov. 9, setting up a dual campaign for the presidency and a sixth Olympic appearance.
The five-time Olympic judo champion released a campaign video under the slogan “The France We Want,” wearing a dark suit in front of a bookshelf and the French flag. The announcement arrived as political instability grips France following a series of government collapses and widening budget disputes in the National Assembly.
Asked by Le Parisien whether his political ambitions would end his athletic career, Riner said he planned to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in his judo gi if his duties allowed and the French public agreed.
Born in Guadeloupe in April 1989 and raised in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, Riner emerged as the dominant heavyweight in international judo. He claimed his first world title at age 18 in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and secured bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before winning gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.
After taking bronze in the individual tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, Riner won gold in the mixed team event. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, he carried the Olympic flame alongside Marie-José Pérec before winning his fourth individual gold medal in the over-100kg division by defeating South Korea’s Minjong Kim with an ippon.
He followed that performance by securing the decisive victory in the mixed team final against Japan, giving him a fifth Olympic gold medal.
Injuries disrupted his season following the Paris Games, including a right shoulder injury that forced him to miss events in Lima and Lausanne as well as the world championships in Baku. Le Monde reported in October that his absence from international individual competition dropped him from the International Judo Federation rankings, requiring him to return to competition to accumulate ranking points ahead of the 2028 Games.
President Emmanuel Macron told France 5 that he welcomed a great champion entering the race to bring new ideas to the debate. Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe called him a heavyweight candidate, while former sports minister Guy Drut told L’Équipe that the decision was absurd and questioned whether Riner could secure the necessary financial backing and endorsements.
Riner said that he belongs to neither the left nor the right, aiming to bridge divides. His outlined platform includes reducing the gap between gross and net wages, easing corporate employment burdens, and adjusting the pension system while preserving pay-as-you-go structures. He also emphasized equal opportunity regardless of background or skin color.
To secure a place on the April 18 first-round ballot, Riner’s team must collect 500 signatures from eligible elected officials across at least 30 departments or overseas territories, with a maximum of 50 signatures from any single department. He said that he has assembled a campaign team of roughly 20 people, including civil servants and former ministers.
Opinion polls indicate political positions are changing. A Toluna Harris Interactive survey published on Nov. 9 placed National Rally leader Marine Le Pen leading the first-round field at 34% to 36%, with France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon polling between 18% and 19%. Polling organizations have not yet tested Riner against the declared field following his announcement.
Riner’s campaign team faces its first major test in convincing local mayors across France to grant their official signatures. The Constitutional Council will ultimately verify the candidate list for the first round of voting.
Related reading
