France's five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced on Monday that he would run in next year's presidential election, citing his concern about the rise of the far right. The 37-year-old made the surprise announcement on social media, telling the public "I am a candidate in the 2027 presidential election."
Riner enters the race as far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen leads in polls to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron. Le Pen's anti-immigration party became the largest party in the National Assembly following snap polls called by Macron in 2024, and increased its Senate seats from three to at least 15 in September elections.
Hailing from the overseas French territory of Guadeloupe, the judoka said in his announcement that fighting has always been part of him and that he knows what it means to fall and get back up. He acknowledged potential criticism that he is not from the establishment and has never done politics, but stated that refusing chaos makes him crazy if that is what critics believe.
In an interview with the Le Parisien newspaper, Riner stated that he intends to continue his sports career alongside his presidential bid. He added that if elected president, he plans to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if the position and the French people allow it.
Riner won heavyweight gold at the 2012, 2016 and 2024 Olympics alongside mixed team gold at the 2020 and 2024 Games. Another French star judoka, David Douillet, previously entered politics and served as sports minister from September 2011 to May 2012 after being elected to parliament in 2009.
Source: The Local. Read the original report ↗