Judo Champion Teddy Riner Enters French Presidential Race

Teddy Riner, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time world champion in judo, announced on Monday that he is running for the presidency of France. The 37-year-old, who was born in Guadeloupe, entered the race for next April's election without a political party, a formal manifesto, or prior experience in public office. His campaign currently rests on a slogan, "La France qu'on aime," and a series of social media announcements.

The announcement generated immediate attention. More than 28 million people viewed Riner's election broadcast on Instagram and X. The video was filmed with formal decorum against a backdrop of books and the French flag. An Ifop poll conducted within 24 hours of the broadcast found that 22% of respondents said they "could" vote for him. Riner has also begun campaign activity, including a recent visit to a hospital in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of northern Paris.

Guillaume Tabard of Le Figaro noted that while Riner lacks experience in the political in-crowd, his popularity makes him a difficult figure to dismiss. Tabard stated, "Anyone who thinks that being out of the political in-crowd disqualifies Riner from running for the Ãlysée would be very wrong." However, Tabard added that Riner would also be wrong to assume that being an outsider is sufficient for success.

In his initial address, Riner positioned himself as "neither left, nor right." He pledged to unite the country and put money back in people's pockets. He criticized both racists and what he called "yobs who scare people off our streets." Riner used the phrase "Don't Worry! I'm NOT a Politician!" to emphasize his status as an outsider. He argued that those in power are often disconnected from the daily realities of French families dealing with debt and rising costs.

Riner's political stance appears centered on the middle ground. He leans right on economic matters and law and order, while strongly advocating against racism, a position that resonates with voters given his background. His pitch is broadly anti-extremism, specifically targeting Marine Le Pen on the hard right and Jean-Luc Mélenchon on the hard left. Both Le Pen and Mélenchon currently appear likely to face off in the final round of the election in May.

The entry of another center-ground candidate complicates the political landscape. The space between the left and right is already crowded with candidates, including former prime ministers Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, as well as Socialist-backed Raphaël Glucksman and Republican Bruno Retailleau. Christine Lagarde, who steps down as head of the European Central Bank in February, may also join the race. The addition of Riner could further dilute the polling numbers of these existing candidates, potentially increasing the likelihood that Mélenchon qualifies for the second round.

Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed, expressed satisfaction with Riner's decision. "We know how it goes: neither right nor left means not left," Mélenchon told reporters on Friday. President Emmanuel Macron also praised Riner, calling him a "great champion" and stating that politics "did not belong to the professionals." Riner responded to Macron's comments on Saturday, describing the praise as a "poisoned chalice." He clarified, "I'm not the president's envoy, I'm not a Macronist."

Riner stated that he views his candidacy as a way to address the country's problems, which he believes are being ignored by the current political establishment. He has indicated that he will not do anything half-heartedly, a trait he associated with his athletic career. As the campaign progresses, questions remain about his specific policy positions on pension reform, education investment, public debt, and the war in Ukraine. Riner must now translate his sporting fame into a political mandate before the election in April.