- Teddy Riner, the five-time French Olympic judo champion, announced on social media that he is a candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
- In an interview with Le Parisien, Riner stated he is neither left nor right and aims to be a candidate of unity.
- Riner intends to continue his sporting career and hopes to compete in the 2028 LA Olympics if elected.
- Dani Podgoretskaya, an analyst at Eurasia Group, commented that there is little chance Riner will be seen as a serious contender due to his lack of experience and absence of a political party.
- Riner has won five Olympic gold medals and is considered one of the greatest judokas in history.
- Riner expressed concern about the rise of the far right in France, particularly with Marine Le Pen leading in the polls.
- Riner's candidacy is seen as a response to the deep divisions in French society, as he aims to unite voters.
Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced his candidacy for the French presidency, expressing deep concern over the rise of the far right and the growing divisions within the country. In a video posted on social media, Riner stated, "My name is Teddy Riner and today, I am telling you face to face: I am a candidate in the 2027 presidential election."16
Riner, who has won 11 world titles and multiple Olympic gold medals, described himself as a candidate of "unity", aiming to bridge the gap between left and right. He emphasized that he is neither "left nor right-wing" but seeks to bring people together, stating, "The country is experiencing deep divisions right now, let’s not kid ourselves."7
He expressed his frustration with the current political climate, saying, "France does not need a professional politician who recites lessons and quarrels all day long." Riner fears that France could become deeply divided, stating, "I fear that tomorrow we'll be living in confrontation."
Despite lacking political experience, Riner is determined to challenge the status quo. He acknowledged that many might view him as "crazy" for entering politics without the usual connections, but he remains resolute: "If refusing to bow my head and refusing chaos makes me crazy, then yes, I'm completely crazy." He aims to inspire hope and ambition among the French people, lamenting the current state of affairs where "state authority has disappeared".
If elected, Riner hopes to balance his political career with his sporting ambitions, aiming to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
As the presidential election approaches, Riner's candidacy adds a new dynamic to the race, particularly as Marine Le Pen leads in the polls with 36% of voting intentions, followed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 17.6%.
“Riner, who hails from Guadeloupe, said he feared France could become deeply divided and cast himself as an alternative to both the far right and hard left. Marine Le Pen leads polls with 36%, with Jean-Luc Mélenchon second at 17.6%.”
Euronews.comThe GuardianLe Monde.fr
