Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner has announced his candidacy for the French presidential election scheduled for the spring.
Riner, an 11-time world champion, confirmed his decision to enter the political arena in an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, stating, “I have decided to commit myself at the side of the French people and therefore to run for the office of President of the Republic.”
The 37-year-old athlete cited the ongoing social unrest in France as a primary driver for his campaign. According to Tagesspiegel, Riner stated that he could not sit idly by and “watch the country burn.”
He expressed frustration with the current political polarization, noting that he did not want to settle for a choice between “the extremes.” Current polling in France suggests a potential runoff between National Rally’s Marine Le Pen and hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Riner rejected the idea that he should be limited to his identity as a champion. “I am not just a judoka,” he said. He described his motivation as stemming from the “anger, the concern and the feeling that no one is addressing it” that he has observed throughout the autumn.
Riner stated that he does not align with either the left or the right wing of the French political spectrum. Instead, he aims his message at “all French people, the young, the non-voters, all those who want to dream big.” He acknowledged that his entry into politics would likely draw criticism, noting, “I know what people will say: ‘He is crazy. He has never done politics.'”
He countered this potential skepticism by framing his athletic career as preparation for the demands of a national campaign. “If it makes me a crazy person not to lower my head and not to accept the chaos, then yes, I am completely crazy,” Riner said. When asked if he was prepared for the intensity of a political race, the judoka replied, “But taking hits, that is, you know, my job.”
To officially appear on the ballot, Riner must secure 500 signatures from elected officials and provide detailed disclosures regarding his assets and potential conflicts of interest. Under French law, any adult citizen who has fulfilled their civil or military service obligations is eligible to run. Riner expressed the view that these procedural requirements should not be a barrier in a democracy.
He has launched a campaign website under the slogan “The France We Want.” Regarding his future in sports, Riner indicated that he would not abandon his plans to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, provided that the duties of the presidency—should he win—and the French electorate allow it.
France's five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced on Monday that he would run in the country's high-stakes presidential election next year. "My name is Teddy Riner and today, I am telling you face to face: I am a candidate in the 2027 presidential election," the… pic.twitter.com/oSXEj0nHAa
Earlier coverage: Teddy Riner Announces Candidacy for French Presidency
