Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced his intention to run in the 2027 French presidential election, chinesenews.net.au reported.
The 37-year-old athlete outlined his political ambitions in an interview with Le Parisien. Riner stated that remaining silent on national issues would be irresponsible, positioning himself as a candidate who belongs neither to the left nor the right.
Riner Criticizes French Political Divides and Lack of Ambition
Riner criticized the current state of French politics, pointing to deep partisan divides and a lack of credible visions to unite the public. He argued that society currently suffers from a shortage of ambition and hope.
“I can feel the anger of some people, and their words are filled with a lot of negativity, as if they have lost their ambition and grand aspirations,” Riner told Le Parisien.
An Unprecedented Judo Legacy
Standing 204 centimeters tall and weighing 140 kilograms, Riner competes in the men’s +100kg division. He claimed gold medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, won a bronze in the individual event and gold in the mixed team event at Tokyo 2020, and secured gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Alongside his five Olympic gold and two bronze medals spanning five Games since Beijing 2008, Riner holds 11 world championship titles. He previously stated an ambition to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Opposition to Extremism
Riner addressed his political stances in an appearance on the French sports television program Stade2, stating that he feels alarmed by the rise of extremism. He clarified that his warnings specifically target the far-right movement.
The 2027 presidential field features prominent figures including Marine Le Pen of the National Rally, left-wing lawmaker Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and former prime ministers from the Macron administration.
Securing the Ballot Line
Under French electoral law, any prospective presidential candidate must secure at least 500 signatures from elected officials before appearing on the ballot. Riner has not yet announced a formal party platform to gather those nominations.
When asked about international diplomacy, Riner stated an intention to maintain strong partnerships with allies and restore French respect abroad. He also joked about potential meetings with U.S. leaders, noting that observers frequently speculate about his grip strength compared to Donald Trump.
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