Judo champion shakes up French presidential race with surprise candidacy
Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner has announced a surprise candidacy for the French presidency. Despite lacking political experience, his high popularity and status as a national icon have drawn significant attention from the political establishment.
Why it matters
Riner's entry into the race challenges traditional political norms and highlights the influence of celebrity culture on modern democratic elections.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Five-times Olympic champion Teddy Riner is one of France's most popular athletes
Apart from an overwhelming urge to pin one's opponent to the floor of the house, there is no obvious connection between politics and the world of top-level judo.
That has not stopped France's much-garlanded world heavyweight champion Teddy Riner from throwing his hat into the ring for next April's presidential race.
The Guadeloupe-born 37-year-old may have no experience of public office, no party behind him, and as yet no manifesto. All so far is a slogan La France qu'on aime (The France we love), a declaration on social media, and a campaign visit to a hospital in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of northern Paris.
But it would be a foolhardy pundit who would totally write off his chances.
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