Judo legend Teddy Riner launches surprise bid for French presidency

Teddy Riner has announced plans to run in France’s presidential election, positioning himself as a candidate who is neither leftwing nor rightwing. According to The Guardian ^[1], the five-times Olympic champion stated he would seek to “bring people together” in the upcoming April-May ballot to replace Emmanuel Macron.

The announcement comes as the race shapes up to be a showdown between political extremes. The Guardian reported ^[1] that polls indicate a hollowing out of the political centre, with National Rally leader Marine Le Pen potentially the frontrunner, while radical-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon trails behind. Riner joins a crowded field, with analysts describing him as a long shot due to his lack of political experience and absence of party backing.

In a video posted on social media, Riner acknowledged the scepticism surrounding his bid. “I know what people are going to say about me: ‘He’s crazy. He’s not from the establishment. He doesn’t have the codes. He’s never done politics,’” he said. He listed issues facing the nation, including soaring debt, the rising cost of groceries, and precarious futures for those without the right connections or background.

Riner, 37, born in Guadeloupe and raised in Paris, cited his judo career to justify his candidacy. “Fighting has always been part of me. I know what it’s like to fight, fall and always get up,” he said. “France does not need a professional politician who recites lessons and quarrels all day long.” He told Le Parisien that his views are neither rightwing nor leftwing, arguing that no other candidate offers a credible vision to unite the French people.

The Independent noted ^[2] that Riner is aware of the social tensions, including weeks of protest marches in Paris demanding higher wages. He stated he cannot accept young and old generations struggling to imagine a future. “There is no longer that ambition, no longer that hope,” he said. This follows a wave of racist abuse he faced after expressing anxiety about the rise of the far right, which authorities investigated according to ESPN ^[3].

To qualify for the election, Riner must secure 500 endorsements from elected officials, a requirement mandated by French law. He said he hopes to balance his political duties with his athletic career, aiming to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “Not if my duties as president allow it and the French people give me their blessing,” he said.

Despite his popularity, analysts remain unconvinced. Dani Podgoretskaya of Eurasia Group told Agence France-Presse that there is little chance Riner would be seen as a serious contender. “He has no experience in elected office, no party and no detailed programme yet,” she said. Riner, however, remains undeterred, joking about his potential first handshake with US President Donald Trump: “We’ll see who has the firmer handshake.”