PARIS — Teddy Riner, the most decorated judoka in French history, has entered the race for the Élysée Palace. In an interview published Monday with the daily Le Parisien, the 37-year-old five-time Olympic gold medallist confirmed he will stand in next spring's presidential election, vowing to offer an alternative to what he calls a political class that "lectures and bickers all day."
Riner, who has dominated heavyweight judo for nearly two decades, described himself as a candidate of "unity," insisting he belongs to neither the left nor the right. "France does not need a professional politician who lectures and bickers all day," he said in a video posted on X. "It needs common sense, goodness and a state that puts things as they should be."
The announcement comes with less than six months to go before the first round of voting. Riner acknowledged that his lack of political experience and absence of "the right connections" might make his bid seem improbable. "I expect people to view me as crazy," he said. "But if refusing to bow to pressure and refusing to accept chaos makes me crazy, then yes, I am completely crazy."
From the tatami to the campaign trail
Riner's sporting pedigree is unmatched in French Olympic history. He won individual gold in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, and added team gold in Tokyo and Paris 2024. His towering presence and calm under pressure have made him a national icon, but he has never held public office or engaged in partisan politics.
In his announcement, Riner drew a direct line between his athletic career and his political ambitions. "I won't be among those who stand by and watch the country burn, looking for excuses," he said. "My life hasn't been spent behind a desk. Fighting has always been a part of who I am. I know what it's like to struggle, to fall, and to get back up, time and time again."
He also made clear that a presidential run would not end his sporting career. Riner said he intends to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, should the public allow him to do so. That would make him 38 at the time of the Games, an age at which few judokas remain at the top level, but Riner has repeatedly defied expectations.
A crowded and volatile field
Riner enters a race that is still taking shape. According to an IFOP poll for broadcaster LCI conducted from 27 to 29 October, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally leads the first round with 36% of voting intentions. She is followed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the hard-left France Unbowed, with an estimated 17.6%.
The centrist camp, still searching for a candidate after President Emmanuel Macron's decision not to seek a third term, has yet to coalesce. Riner's appeal could draw support from voters disillusioned with traditional parties, though political analysts note that celebrity candidates have historically struggled to convert fame into votes in France.
Riner's entry adds another unpredictable element to a campaign already marked by nationwide protests over wages and working conditions, and by Mélenchon's left-wing manifesto. The country has seen repeated demonstrations, including large rallies in Lyon and other cities, as unions press for higher pay and better public services.
Riner's message of unity may resonate with voters tired of political polarisation, but he will need to gather the 500 signatures from elected officials required to appear on the ballot. His team says they are confident of securing the necessary endorsements.
Whether the judo champion can translate his popularity into political momentum remains to be seen. But his entry has already injected a dose of unpredictability into a race that was beginning to look like a two-person contest between Le Pen and Mélenchon.
