Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner has announced his intention to contest France’s 2027 presidential election, introducing one of the country’s most recognisable sporting figures into an increasingly competitive political landscape.
The 37-year-old athlete made the announcement on Monday through a video shared on social media, declaring his candidacy for the election scheduled to choose a successor to President Emmanuel Macron.
Riner’s entry into the race is particularly significant because of his popularity beyond the sporting community. He is one of France’s most celebrated athletes, having won five Olympic gold medals and 11 world championship titles during his judo career.
His Olympic victories include individual heavyweight gold medals at the 2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2024 Paris Games. He also secured mixed-team gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics.
Although Riner has not traditionally been identified as a career politician, he has previously expressed concern about the growing influence of far-right politics in France.
His decision to enter the presidential contest comes as far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is reported to be leading in opinion polls ahead of the election, presenting a major challenge to the political establishment.
The French presidential election is expected to attract considerable attention as political parties and candidates position themselves to replace Macron, whose current presidency has been marked by political divisions and public disagreements over government policies.
Riner’s candidacy also recalls the involvement of other prominent French sporting personalities in politics. Former Olympic judoka David Douillet, for instance, entered parliament in 2009 and later served as France’s sports minister between September 2011 and May 2012.
However, Riner will need to translate his national recognition and sporting achievements into a credible political programme capable of attracting support across France’s diverse electorate.
His announcement adds an unexpected dimension to the 2027 presidential contest, raising questions about the growing role of celebrities and prominent public figures in electoral politics.
Whether his popularity in sport can translate into electoral support remains to be seen as France moves towards another consequential presidential election.
