Politics · France · 1 hr ago
Judo champion Teddy Riner announces bid for French presidency
Teddy Riner has announced he will run for France’s presidency in the 2027 election.
The 37-year-old judo champion says he is neither left-wing nor right-wing and wants to bring people together.
Riner is one of France’s best-known sports figures, but he has no political experience.
His bid comes amid social tensions and protests, while polls cited in the coverage show far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leading.
Riner says he was inspired by the way the 2024 Paris Olympics brought people together, and wants to restore hope and ambition.
He plans to keep competing in judo and says he may try for another Olympic gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games if his presidential duties allow it.
The French election is due next year, but the sources give different dates for the vote.
Teddy Riner has announced that he will run for France’s presidency in the 2027 election.
The 37-year-old judoka says he will campaign neither on the left nor the right and wants to bring French people together.
Riner said social divisions and a loss of hope among young people helped prompt his decision.
He has no political experience and says his presidential bid will not end his judo career or his hopes of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The election is scheduled for 18 April 2027, with a second round on 2 May if no candidate wins a majority.
- Who
- Teddy Riner, a 37-year-old French judo champion.
- What
- He announced he will run for president of France in 2027.
- When
- He announced his bid on Monday, 9 November 2026. The election is scheduled for 18 April 2027.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- He said he wants to bring French people together and respond to social divisions and a loss of hope.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Riner said he wanted to end his judo career with a fourth individual Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Riner announced his bid in an interview with Le Parisien and on social media.
France’s presidential election is scheduled to take place.
A second round is scheduled if no candidate secures a majority in the first round.
- Age
- 37
- Presidential election
- 18 April 2027
- Possible second round
- 2 May 2027
- Campaign position
- Neither right-wing nor left-wing
- Olympic goal
- Compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Games
7 sources
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Judo star Teddy Riner announces bid for French presidency
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Riner, 5-time Olympic judo champ, announces run for French presidency
What people are saying
what would be irresponsible would be to remain silent and stand by as a spectator to what is happening in our country, and what has been happening for several years now.
Today, that’s what’s missing. That ambition is gone; that hope is gone.
We are capable of achieving great things together.
neither to the right, nor the left