Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner enters 2027 French presidential race

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 15 Nov, 00:26 · Archive

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Teddy Riner has announced his candidacy for the French presidency in 2027.

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Teddy Riner has announced his candidacy for France's 2027 presidential election. The 37-year-old from Guadeloupe made his announcement on social media with the campaign slogan 'The France we love' and released a presidential-style video that attracted 14.5 million views on Instagram alone. An Ifop poll taken within 24 hours found that 22 per cent of voters said they could support him.

Riner's appeal lies partly in his status as one of modern France's most popular figures, regularly topping polls for embodying the nation's values. He is a proven winner with five Olympic golds and 11 world championships, along with a successful business career. More than 28 million people have watched his election broadcast across Instagram and X. However, Riner has no experience of public office, no party backing and as yet no manifesto beyond his slogan.

President Emmanuel Macron endorsed Riner's candidacy on Monday, saying it could 'only benefit the country'. Riner quickly rejected this support, calling Macron's endorsement a 'poisoned chalice' during a visit to a trade fair. 'I'm not the president's envoy,' he said, emphasising his independence from the current administration. Some observers have noted the irony, as Riner appears to be following Macron's centrist approach of positioning himself as an alternative to France's political extremes.

Riner is positioning himself for voters unwilling to choose between the far right and hard left. Opinion polls project far-right candidate Marine Le Pen winning the first round, with hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon reaching a second-round runoff. Macron's popularity has reached its lowest level since 2017, amid nationwide protests.

To appear on the ballot's first round in April, Riner must secure endorsement from at least 500 elected officials. This threshold, designed to filter out frivolous candidacies, underlines how seriously France traditionally regards the presidency. Few celebrities have successfully reached elected office in France compared to the United States, though two-time Olympic champion David Douillet in judo and fencer Jean-François Lamour served as sports ministers. No celebrity has held France's top office since General Charles de Gaulle.

How it is being reported

• Judo champion shakes up French presidential race with surprise candidacyTeddy Riner is one of the most popular figures in modern-day France, and one in five voters say they could support him.BBC News · 15 Nov, 00:06
• 'Poisoned chalice': Judo star and presidential hopeful Riner rebuffs Macron's backingFrench judo champion Teddy Riner on Saturday publicly distanced himself from President Emmanuel Macron, calling his endorsement a "poisoned chalice". The presidential hopeful seeks to position himself as an alternative to France's political extremes.France 24 · 14 Nov, 14:57
• Judo star Teddy Riner is taking on what may be his toughest battle in the French presidential raceJudo star Teddy Riner is taking on what may be his toughest battle in the French presidential raceIndependent World · 14 Nov, 05:43
• How to win friends and throw people: Judo’s big impact on politicsTeddy Riner wants to be president of France. If he wins, could he be the one to get through to Vladimir Putin?Politico Europe · 13 Nov, 03:00

In this story: Teddy Riner · Emmanuel Macron · Marine Le Pen · Jean-Luc Mélenchon · France · Guadeloupe

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