“My name is Teddy Riner and today, I am telling you face to face: I am a candidate in the 2027 presidential election,” said Teddy Riner, announcing his bid on Monday.
The five-time Olympic judo champion launched his campaign through a video on social media, becoming the 36th person to declare an intention to run for the French presidency. Within 48 hours, the video had garnered 14m views on X, surpassing the viewership of Marine Le Pen’s address following recent riots.
The 37-year-old athlete, who co-lit the 2024 Paris Olympic cauldron, stated in his announcement that fighting has always been part of his identity. He hails from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe.
Seated in front of a bookcase while wearing a white shirt and dark jacket, the athlete said that he understands what it means to fight, to fall, and to always get back up. He expressed deep concern regarding the rise of the far right in France, emphasizing that giving up is not an option when facing adversity.
Riner holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals, with five, and total medals, with seven, in judo history. His victories include individual heavyweight titles at the 2012, 2016, and 2024 Olympic Games, along with mixed team gold medals in 2020 and 2024. He has secured 11 world championship titles.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the surprise entry during an appearance on France 5. “I am very pleased … that someone like Teddy Riner, who is a great champion, has decided to get involved in this presidential debate and to contribute his convictions, his ideas, and his talent,” Macron said.
The French president also said that politics does not belong to professionals. Riner later described the president’s praise as a “poisoned chalice,” clarifying to reporters that he is not the president’s envoy and is not a Macronist.
Meanwhile, far-right leader Marine Le Pen noted during a campaign stop that she could not evaluate the bid without reviewing a formal platform. Le Pen’s anti-immigration party emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly following snap polls called by Macron in 2024, though it fell short of a majority, and subsequently increased its Senate seats from three to at least 15 in elections held in September.
Riner made his first official campaign stop at Delafontaine Hospital in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on Friday, November 13, 2026. Greeting a thicket of cameras, the 37-year-old stood at his 2.04-meter height while dressed in a dark suit and open-neck shirt. Addressing potential criticism regarding his lack of political background, he anticipated public skepticism.
“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 added: “If refusing to bow my head and refusing chaos makes me crazy, then yes, I’m completely crazy”.
Other French sports stars have previously transitioned into political office, including two-time Olympic judo champion David Douillet, fencing champion Jean-François Lamour, and 110-meter hurdles champion Guy Drut, all of whom won seats in parliament in retirement and served as sports ministers. Douillet previously served as a member of parliament and as sports minister from September 2011 to May 2012.
When asked by Le Parisien whether a presidential campaign would end his athletic pursuits, Riner indicated he intends to balance both, keeping open the possibility of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics “if the position allows me to, and if the French people allow me to”.