Teddy Riner caused a surprise on Monday by announcing that he was running for the 2027 presidential election. However, he is not the first high-level athlete to plunge into the deep end of politics. Before him, more than one became mayors, parliamentarians or ministers.
Published on: 09/11/2026 - 17:31 Modified on: 09/11/2026 - 17:32
Already in search of a fourth Olympic title in 2028 in Los Angeles, judo legend Teddy Riner has just set a new goal: the French presidential election. The tatami titan announced his intentions on Monday November 9 in a video posted on social networks.
“I tell you face to face, I am a candidate for the 2027 presidential election,” declared the 37-year-old Guadeloupean during this surprise announcement. "Fighting has always been a part of me. I know what it's like to fight, to fall, to always get back up."
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If a passage through the presidential box remains exceptional, the bridge between high-level sport and politics has already often been taken in France. A look back at notable precedents.
The express route: only Cantona has tried it
In recent years, Teddy Riner had multiplied the indications of a possible political commitment. His choice to compete directly for the supreme office without going through a local mandate or a ministry is almost unprecedented: there is only one precedent.
In January 2012, former French international Éric Cantona called in an open letter published in Libération for the sponsorship of 500 elected officials to be able to run for president. "I am a committed citizen [...]. This commitment requires me to speak out, more seriously than usual, but also with a strong spirit of responsibility, at a time when our country is faced with difficult choices...", said the Manchester United legend.
In reality, the footballer accustomed to rants had no intention of settling at the Élysée. It was a communication stunt developed in collaboration with the Abbé-Pierre Foundation to send a red card to “poor housing” and raise awareness among candidates.
From the Olympic podium to the Ministry of Sports: the classic route
The most classic route for former athletes is to become Minister or Secretary of State for Sports (and often also for Youth). Under the Fifth Republic, mountaineer Maurice Herzog inaugurated the tradition between 1958 and 1966. He was succeeded in particular by Alain Calmat, world figure skating champion and Minister of Youth and Sports between 1984 and 1986, Roger Bambuck, former 100-meter world record holder and Secretary of State for Youth and Sports from 1988 to 1991, as well as Guy Drut, Olympic champion in the 110 meter hurdles and Minister of Youth and Sports from 1995 to 1997.
Under Nicolas Sarkozy, between 2007 and 2012, the ministry was almost entirely filled by former athletes. Bernard Laporte (rugby), Chantal Jouanno (karate) and David Douillet (judo) followed. Emmanuel Macron took the recipe from his predecessor. Until the dissolution in 2024, the position was devolved to former athletes: Laura Flessel (fencing), Roxana Maracineanu (swimming) and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (tennis).
Local roots: from the playground to the mayor's chair
In addition to ministerial portfolios, the local level constitutes the privileged area of engagement of former champions. Prominence is an advantage when running for a seat or helping a more established political party gain ground in an election.
Already mentioned above among the ministers, some have led real elected careers after their time in the stadiums. On the left side, Alain Calmat headed the town hall of Livry-Gargan (Seine-Saint-Denis) for almost 20 years (1995-2014). On the right side, Guy Drut was elected to the town hall of Coulommiers for 16 years (1992-2008). In the center, the former back of the XV of France Serge Blanco became the councilor of Biarritz during the last municipal elections. Before that, Maurice Herzog had been mayor – logically – of Chamonix (1968-1977).
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Then he became a deputy for Haute-Savoie again. Others have combined their local roots with a parliamentary mandate, like David Douillet (MP for Yvelines and vice-president of the Île-de-France region) or skipper Jimmy Pahun, winner of the Sailing Tour de France who became MP for Morbihan.
A sports career is also a way to boost a list inexpensively. In 2020, former football international Vikash Dhorasoo led the list supported by La France insoumise in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.
The process is not new. In 2010, Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh found himself on the MoDem list for the regionals led by Jean Lassalle.
Liberia and Georgia: two reasons for hope for Riner
It is not only in France that former athletes convert to politics. In Paraguay, former international José Luis Chilavert ran for the presidential election in 2023. In the Philippines, it was Manny Pacquiao who tried his luck the year before. The multiple world boxing champion finished third.
However, two examples can give Teddy Riner hope. Golden Ball winner in 1995, George Weah was president of Liberia from 2018 to 2024. More recently, former Manchester City footballer Mikheïl Kavelashvili was elected head of Georgia, after a contested election.
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