Teddy Riner announces bid for French presidency in 2027
The five-time Olympic judo champion is presenting himself as a political outsider, promising practical leadership and greater unity in France.
By Larissa Bell ·
Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced on Monday that he would seek the French presidency in the 2027 election. The 37-year-old athlete used a video posted on X/Twitter to declare his candidacy, presenting himself as an alternative to established politicians and calling for French people to come together.
In the video, Riner addressed viewers directly and confirmed that he intended to run for president. He acknowledged that entering the race without political experience would attract criticism. He anticipated questions about his understanding of government and his position outside the political establishment, as well as suggestions that his decision was unreasonable.
Riner focused on France's public debt, rising pressure from the cost of living and concerns about public safety. He argued that ordinary people were increasingly being left to cope with the country's difficulties themselves. To illustrate his concerns, he described parents struggling to afford their shopping and worrying about their children's safety outside the home.
He linked those fears to what he described as a loss of state authority and said he would not accept disorder. Responding to the criticism he expected to face, Riner said: "If refusing to bow my head and refusing to accept chaos makes me crazy, then yes, I am completely crazy."
The judoka drew on his sporting career to explain the approach he would bring to public office. He said fighting, suffering setbacks and recovering from them had shaped his determination. Rather than emphasizing experience at a lectern, he argued that France needed practical leadership. He called for "common sense, firmness, justice, and a state that puts things back in order," criticizing professional politicians for rehearsed arguments and constant disputes.
Riner has positioned himself outside the traditional divide between left and right, according to Le Monde. The newspaper reported that he wanted to lead in a way that brought French people together. In a separate interview with Le Parisien, he said his candidacy was intended to show that France could be restored and described his ambition to serve as a unifying figure.
His political ambitions do not include plans to give up competitive sport. According to Le Monde, Riner still hopes to take part in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, although he said that would depend on whether presidential responsibilities and the French public allowed it.
