Teddy Riner Enters 2027 Election and Vows to Challenge the Status Quo

French judo champion Teddy Riner announced his surprise candidacy for the 2027 presidential election on Monday.

“I’m a candidate in the 2027 presidential election,” the 37-year-old athlete stated in a video published on social media platforms, as reported by Yahoo News.

Riner enters a crowded political field where polls currently place Marine Le Pen at the front, ahead of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The five-time Olympic gold medalist said that fighting has always been part of his life and that he intends to challenge the political status quo.

Seated in front of a bookcase while wearing a white shirt and a dark jacket, the athlete from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe remarked on his unconventional background.

“I know what people are going to say about me: ‘He’s crazy. He’s not from the establishment. He doesn’t have the codes. He’s never done politics,’” Riner said, according to RFI. He added that if refusing to bow his head and refusing chaos makes him crazy, then he considers himself completely crazy, noting further that he would not be among those who watch the country burn while seeking excuses.

The judo champion said that his life has not been spent behind a desk and that the sole risk he perceives is being resigned to choosing solely between two extreme possibilities. He also expressed public concern regarding the rise of the far right in France, which he described as making him anxious and causing him to flip out.

Previously, Riner faced racist remarks in September after discussing his worries on the program Stade 2. Observers such as Gallard and Hourmant suggested that his ability to understand and combat discrimination might appeal to voters of color in an election where far-right factions continue to center their focus on immigration, though Hourmant questioned whether that factor would fully translate into actual votes.

Erwan Lestrohan from the Odoxa polling institute cautioned that while the athlete possesses strong popularity, this positive sentiment will not necessarily convert into electoral support.

Macron Welcomes Riner's Debate Entry

President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the announcement during an appearance on France 5 television’s “C à vous” program, describing Riner as a “great champion” whose participation in the debate can benefit the country, as noted by Naija247News.

Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Mélenchon reacted to the entry by telling reporters “We know how it goes: neither right nor left means not left,” according to BBC News. The leader of France Unbowed appeared pleased with the announcement, as the addition of another candidate serves to further dilute polling numbers and increases the likelihood of Mélenchon qualifying for a second round.

Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration party previously secured the position of the single largest party in the National Assembly following snap parliamentary elections called by Macron in 2024, and later increased its Senate seats from three to at least 15 during September elections.

Historical precedents include other French Olympic champions who transitioned into politics, such as Jean-François Lamour, Guy Drut, and David Douillet—the latter of whom served as a member of parliament and as sports minister under Nicolas Sarkozy. However, Riner aims to become the first major celebrity to capture France’s highest office since World War II hero General Charles de Gaulle.

To secure a place on the April ballot, the candidate must obtain 500 signatures of support from elected officials. Riner made his first campaign stop on November 13, 2026, visiting Delafontaine Hospital in Saint-Denis, where he was greeted by a thicket of cameras and stood out through his towering 2.04-meter frame.

Despite launching his political bid, Riner said that he intends to continue his athletic career and aims to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, provided that his official duties and the French people permit it.