Olympic judoka Teddy Riner announces 2027 French presidential run

French Olympic judoka Teddy Riner, 37, announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election, citing economic despair and a desire to unite the country as motivations.

French judoka Teddy Riner, 37, announced today (Monday) that he will run in the 2027 French presidential election. Riner, considered the greatest heavyweight judoka of all time, has won 12 gold medals at World Championships and three Olympic gold medals, and is still active as a judoka. In a statement he released, he said: "My name is Teddy Riner and today I tell you face to face: I am running in the 2027 presidential election." He explained that the issues driving him to run are the economic situation and a sense of despair in the country: "Look at our country, our streets, our rural areas, our neighborhoods. We have let fear, resignation, and a widespread feeling of abandonment take over."