Teddy Riner Announces 2027 French Presidential Bid

Teddy Riner has announced that he will run in France’s 2027 presidential election, presenting himself as a candidate who can bring people together despite having no prior political career. The five-time Olympic gold medallist made the announcement on social media and discussed his plans in an interview with Le Parisien published Monday, November 9.

Riner, 37, said he was neither left nor right and wanted to offer an alternative to political division. He described the country as facing social tensions and said he heard anger among people who struggled to imagine a future. His stated aim, he said, was to help France regain confidence and pursue shared ambitions.

The announcement establishes Riner’s intention to run, but the reports do not describe an organised campaign or whether he has completed any formal requirements. His electoral prospects are also uncertain. One poll cited in the reporting, an IFOP survey for LCI conducted October 27 to 29, put Marine Le Pen at 36% and Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 17.6% of voting intentions. Those figures do not establish support for Riner.

Riner said the presidential bid would not necessarily end his judo career. He hopes to compete at the 2028...