French judo Olympic champion smiling and holding a medal during his participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Image source, Reuters
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Five-times Olympic champion Teddy Riner is one of France's most popular athletes

ByHugh SchofieldIn Paris
  • Published14 minutes ago

Apart from an overwhelming urge to pin one's opponent to the floor of the house, there is no obvious connection between politics and the world of top-level judo.

That has not stopped France's much-garlanded world heavyweight champion Teddy Riner from throwing his hat into the ring for next April's presidential race.

The Guadeloupe-born 37-year-old may have no experience of public office, no party behind him, and as yet no manifesto. All so far is a slogan La France qu'on aime (The France we love), a declaration on social media, and a campaign visit to a hospital in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of northern Paris.