Teddy Riner’s Presidential Campaign Faces Early Sponsor and Support Losses

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Teddy Riner is drawing crowds as a presidential candidate, but his campaign faces early challenges with sponsors cutting ties and supporters withdrawing backing.

Riner, who announced his surprise candidacy last week, appeared Saturday at the Salon du Made in France. While some attendees, like a 50-year-old judo fan named Béatrice, came to see the sports star, dozens of journalists were there to cover the political newcomer, Le Journal du Dimanche reported.

The judoka’s campaign began with a visit to a hospital in Seine-Saint-Denis on Friday. His apparent composure and media attention do not mask the difficult start to his political ambitions, according to observers.

Less than a week after his entry into the race, Riner’s past financial disputes and luxury car preferences have resurfaced. Saxo Bank terminated its contract with him, Le Journal du Dimanche reported.

The candidate is also losing political support. Socialist deputy Béatrice Bellay walked back her pledge of sponsorship, and Aline Poulain-Guerza quietly withdrew. Former Health Minister François Braun, who had reportedly worked for months for an unknown candidate, stepped back after 24 hours, Le Journal du Dimanche reported.

President Emmanuel Macron remains Riner’s notable supporter. Macron praised Riner’s “ideas and talent,” calling him a “great champion” whose qualities can “only bring to the country.” Riner rejected suggestions he is a pawn for Macron, stating, “I am not his envoy, I am not a macronist.” He described the president’s endorsement as a “poisoned kiss.”

The judoka, who brands himself as “neither right nor left,” could shake up the political center, a figure in the mainstream bloc complained. “He is only the product of our weaknesses. He is running because we left him a space,” the source said, according to Le Journal du Dimanche.

Initially dismissing Riner’s candidacy video as an AI-generated joke, a minister now takes it seriously. “For a portion of French people disgusted with politics, his positioning can be seen as a refuge value, like the Sardines movement or Beppe Grillo in Italy,” the minister said, as quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche.

“In the age of social media, is it better to have a well-filled CV or millions of TikTok followers?”

An OpinionWay poll for CNews shows Riner polling at 4%, drawing support from Attal as well as Philippe and Retailleau. He also attracts undecided voters and some Raphaël Glucksmann sympathizers, covering the moderate spectrum from traditional right to social-democratic left, according to poll vice-president Bruno Jeanbart.

A close associate of the PS-Place publique candidate is less concerned, believing Riner will instead “steal a few votes from La France insoumise in the suburbs” or overseas territories, particularly thanks to his Guadeloupean roots.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon has sensed the threat, firing back: “He is of the right, I am of the left. But I prefer to beat a right that has character than a confused cohort like the one we have at the moment!”

Riner’s campaign continues as he faces the challenges of his political debut.