Teddy Riner Announces Run for French President in 2027

Teddy Riner announced on Monday that he will run for president of France in the 2027 election. The five-time Olympic judo champion posted a video on social media and set out his plans in an interview with Le Parisien.

"My name is Teddy Riner and today, I am telling you face to face: I am a candidate in the 2027 presidential election," he said in the video, according to AFP. His campaign slogan is "La France qu'on veut," which means the France we want.

Riner, 37, told Le Parisien that he is neither right-wing nor left-wing and that he wants to become a president who brings people together. He said France needs high standards, common sense and the strength of collective action. He ended his announcement with a line from sport: "On ne lache rien," meaning giving up is not an option.

A record built on the mat

Riner won individual heavyweight gold at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympics, and mixed team gold at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. That gives him five Olympic gold medals. He has also won 11 world titles.

At the Paris Games in 2024 he co-lit the Olympic cauldron, a role that underlined his standing in France. He is one of the country's best known athletes.

His path to the ballot has a practical hurdle first. Under French electoral law, a candidate needs 500 endorsements from elected officials before his name can appear on the ballot.

Politics and one more Olympics

Riner has spoken about politics before. In September he voiced concern about the rise of the far right in an interview on the Stade 2 television programme. French authorities said in September that they had investigated online racial abuse aimed at him after those remarks.

He missed last month's World Championships in Baku with a shoulder injury, according to reports in French media citing the French judo federation. The injury has not ended his sporting plans. Two months ago he said he wants to end his career with a fourth individual Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Asked by Le Parisien whether the presidential bid rules out Los Angeles, he said: "Not if my duties as president allow it and the French people give me their blessing."

The election is due in spring 2027. President Emmanuel Macron has held the office since 2017, and polls put far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in front in the race to succeed him, AFP reported. Riner enters with high name recognition and no record in elected office. His first tests are the 500 endorsements and turning broad themes into policy.