Judo champion Teddy Riner enters French presidential race
The world heavyweight judo champion has no political experience, but his popularity is shaking up the race. Rivals say the centre ground could be affected.
Key points
- Teddy Riner, France's world heavyweight judo champion, has said he will run for the French presidency, according to BBC News.
- He has no political experience, no party and no manifesto so far.
- A social media broadcast reached more than 28 million people on Instagram and X.
- An Ifop poll found 22% of respondents said they could vote for him.
- Emmanuel Macron praised him, but Riner rejected the idea that he is the president's envoy.
France’s world heavyweight judo champion, Teddy Riner, has entered the race for the presidency, according to BBC News. The 37-year-old, who was born in Guadeloupe, will stand in an election expected next April, with a final round likely in May.
Riner has never held public office and does not yet belong to any political party. He has not published a manifesto. So far his campaign rests on a slogan, La France qu’on aime, a statement on social media and a visit to a hospital in Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb north of Paris.
A campaign built on popularity
Riner is one of the most widely admired public figures in France, and he regularly ranks highly in polls that measure how well people feel he represents national values. He has won five Olympic gold medals and 11 world championships. He also has a career in business.
His election broadcast, filmed in a formal setting with books and a French flag behind him, was watched by more than 28 million people on Instagram and X. An Ifop poll taken within 24 hours found that 22% of respondents said they could vote for him.
Other countries have seen actors, television presenters and former footballers reach the top job. Liberia’s former leader George Weah was a professional footballer. Commentators say a sporting background alone does not decide whether a candidate can win.
A crowded centre ground
Guillaume Tabard of Le Figaro, quoted by BBC News, said that being outside the political establishment would not rule Riner out. He added that such an outsider position would not be enough on its own to win.
French politics is split. The centre has no clear figure who can match the drive of Marine Le Pen on the hard right or Jean-Luc Melenchon on the hard left. Those two are expected to meet in the final round in May, according to the BBC.
Riner presents himself as neither left nor right. He says he wants to unite the country, ease the cost of living and oppose racism and street crime. His message sits in the centre but competes with many candidates already there, including Raphael Glucksman, Bruno Retailleau and, possibly, Christine Lagarde, who is due to leave her post at the European Central Bank next February.
Reactions from rival politicians
Melenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, appeared pleased by the news. He suggested that a candidate rejecting both left and right would help his own position. Analysts quoted by the BBC said a fragmented centre could make a second-round place for him more likely.
President Emmanuel Macron called Riner a great champion and said politics should not belong only to professionals. Riner responded that he saw the praise as a poisoned chalice. He said he was not the president’s envoy and was not a supporter of Macron.
The BBC report noted that Riner has not yet set out his views on pensions, education, public debt, populism or Russia’s war in Ukraine. It also said his campaign could fade quickly or could change the arithmetic of the election if it gains lasting support.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Teddy Riner?
Teddy Riner is a French judo champion born in Guadeloupe. According to BBC News, he is a world heavyweight champion with five Olympic golds and 11 world championships.
When is the French presidential election?
BBC News reports that the presidential race is expected next April. The final round is expected to take place in May.
Does Teddy Riner have a party or policy platform?
As of the BBC report, Riner has no party behind him and no manifesto. His campaign so far consists of a slogan, a social media statement and a hospital visit.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
