Judo champion Teddy Riner announces bid for French presidency

French judo champion Teddy Riner says he will stand in the country’s 2027 presidential election, while planning to continue competing at least until the 2028 Olympics.

The 37-year-old, a five-time Olympic champion and 11-time world champion, announced his candidacy in a video on social media. “I don’t want to watch the country go up in flames,” he said. “Fighting has always been part of me. I know what it means to fight, fall and always get back up.”

Riner said he expected some people to dismiss his bid because he had never been involved in politics and was not part of the establishment. He has previously voiced concern about the rise of the far right in France.

In an interview with Le Parisien, Riner said he wanted to continue his judo career at least through the 2028 Olympics, “provided the French people give me permission”.