Paris (France) (AFP) – The popular judo legend Teddy Riner, five-time Olympic champion, announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election in France, in a video posted on his social networks.

First modification: 09/11/2026 - 13:18Last modification: 09/11/2026 - 13:27

The French are called to elect the successor of Emmanuel Macron, who cannot run for a third consecutive term, in the presidential election that will be held in a double round, on April 18 and May 2, 2027.

The judoka, a colossus 2.03 m tall and weighing around 140 kilos, is one of the most popular personalities in France and was one of those in charge of lighting the cauldron at the Paris 2024 Games.

"My name is Teddy Riner and today, looking you directly in the eyes, I tell you that I am a candidate for the 2027 presidential election," declared the 37-year-old Guadeloupean in this surprise announcement.

"Fighting has always been a part of me. I know what it's like to fight, fall and get up again and again," added the judoka still active, sitting in front of a library, dressed in a white shirt and a dark jacket.

Riner is the only judoka in history with three individual Olympic heavyweight titles (2012, 2016 and 2024), to which are added two more team titles (2020 and 2024) and two bronzes (2008 and 2020).

With a "chance" of winning

One of the judoka's goals, as he told AFP after the Paris Games in 2024, was a fourth individual Olympic title in Los Angeles 2028.

In a long interview given to the newspaper Le Parisien, Riner assures that he plans to continue his sporting career and participate in the 2028 Games, although he qualifies: "If the position allows it and if the French authorize it."

Riner explains in the interview published this Monday that his decision to appear dates back to after the Paris Games, where he saw "an entire country come together, proud, happy... and then divide a few weeks later."

Although he admits that "there are certainly already many candidates," he assures that he intends to "go to the end" and is confident that he has "possibilities."

- Political tensions and polarization -

In a context of polarization, the polls place the far-right Marine Le Pen as the favorite for the presidency, while the leader of the radical left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, would be her rival in the runoff.

"The only risk I see today is being resigned to choosing between two options, those of the extremes," said Riner, who declares himself neither right nor left.

But to become a candidate, you must first gather 500 endorsements from parliamentarians, mayors and other elected officials, coming from at least 30 of the hundred French departments.

The last months of the presidency of Macron, who came to power in 2017 with a centrist project in the face of the traditional two-party system between the left and the right in France, are marked by a context of strong social and economic tensions, with weekly protests since September.

On Thursday, between 575,000 and almost 1.6 million people took to the streets to demand an increase in purchasing power and in support of students who have been denouncing since mid-September the lack of teachers and deteriorated classrooms, among others.

The protests are taking place amid tight security measures, after the October 17 marches ended with looting and riots, which went around the world.

© 2026 AFP

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