Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announces bid for French presidency

Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner announced on Monday that he would run in France's 2027 presidential election, saying France needs "common sense, firmness, justice, and a state that puts things back in order."The 37-year-old athlete announced his candidacy in a video published on X/Twitter, presenting himself as an outsider to traditional politics and calling for greater national unity."My name is Teddy Riner, and today, I am telling you this while looking you straight in the eye. I am running for president in the 2027 presidential election," he said.La résignation n'est pas une option. Face aux difficultés de notre pays, l'heure est venue de prendre ses responsabilités. Je suis candidat à l'élection présidentielle de 2027. #TeddyRiner2027 #Présidentielle2027 #LaFrancequonveut https://t.co/nM7rTfyTrH— Teddy Riner (@teddyriner) November 9, 2026Riner acknowledged that his lack of political experience would likely draw criticism, anticipating that people would say he was "crazy," outside the political establishment and unfamiliar with how government worked.He pointed to France's public debt, the cost of living, and concerns over public safety, arguing that ordinary people had increasingly been left to deal with the country's problems."Is it crazy to find it unbearable that a mother or father has to grit their teeth while filling their shopping cart?