Judo legend Teddy Riner joins fight for French presidency
Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced Monday he will run in the 2027 French presidential election, citing concern over the rise of the far right. The 37-year-old from Guadeloupe positioned himself as an alternative to far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. President Macron welcomed the bid, while analysts expressed skepticism about Riner's political credibility.
Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced Monday that he will run in the 2027 French presidential election, citing concern over the rise of the far right. In a surprise social media video, the 37-year-old from Guadeloupe said he feared France could become deeply divided and cast himself as an alternative to voters unwilling to choose between far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. Riner criticized excessive bureaucracy, state debt, and racial inequality, saying 'a young person's future can be destroyed simply because they don't have the right network, the right name or the right skin color.' President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the bid, saying it 'can only benefit the country.' Analysts expressed skepticism: Dani Podgoretskaya of Eurasia Group said Riner addressed 'the right pain points' but has no experience, party, or detailed program. Erwan Lestrohan of Odoxa said his popularity would not necessarily translate into electoral support. Riner said he intends to continue his sports career and, if elected, would compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.