France: Judo legend Teddy Riner is running for president

France's judo icon Teddy Riner wants to run for president next year. The five-time Olympic champion announced this in a video that he published on various platforms. The elections will take place in April 2027. France will then vote on the successor to Emmanuel Macron, who will no longer be able to run after two terms in office.

“I know what people will say about me: 'He's crazy. “He’s never done politics before,” the 37-year-old said in the video. "If not putting my head down and accepting the chaos makes me crazy, then yes, I'm completely crazy."

He believes in his chance despite many opposing candidates. "The only risk I see today is resigning myself to choosing between two options, namely the extremes," said Riner. He is apparently alluding to the right-wing Rassemblement National, for which Marine Le Pen is leading in the polls, and the left-wing La France insoumise of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Riner says of himself that he is politically neither right-wing nor left-wing. Most recently, he publicly expressed his concern about the “rise of the radical right” in France. Riner continued that he could not stand idly by and “watch the country burn.”

Riner admitted that there are already “many candidates” for the French presidency. But he is convinced that he has “every chance” of winning. All candidates take part in the first round of voting. If no one achieves an absolute majority, there will be a runoff election in the second round between the two best placed candidates.

Riner wants to go to the 2028 Olympics as a judoka

Riner, born in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, is still active as a judoka. He told the newspaper “Le Parisien” that he would like to continue his sporting career and even take part in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “If the office allows me and if the French allow me,” said Riner.