Judo champion Teddy Riner announces he's running for president of France: 'I know what it's like to fight'
French judo champion Teddy Riner has announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election. The Olympic gold medalist aims to challenge professional politicians, emphasizing themes of justice, firmness, and national unity.
Why it matters
Riner's entry into politics represents a shift toward celebrity-led populism in French governance, potentially disrupting the traditional political landscape.
Teddy Riner, a champion judoka with five Olympic gold medals and 12 World Championship medals, is throwing his hat into France's political ring. In a video posted to social media on Monday, the French judo star declared his candidacy for the country's 2027 presidential election.
"Fighting has always been a part of me," Riner said in the video. "I know what it's like to fight, to fall down and to always get back up. France does not need a professional politician who recites lessons and quarrels all day. It needs good sense, firmness, justice and a government that can put things back into place."
Riner did not align himself with either the left or right-wing politicians, but said that he hoped to "bring people together." He also acknowledged that some would call his candidacy "crazy."
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