Meet Teddy Riner, the Decorated Olympian Running for French President
During an interview in September, Riner said he was “anxious” over far-right extremism in France.
“Seeing all this makes me anxious. The rise of extremism, it freaks me out,” he said. When asked if he was referring to extremes on both the left and right, Riner said: “The far right. Let’s call a spade a spade.”
Riner later reported receiving “numerous tweets, posts, comments, and messages of a hateful or racist nature” following his comments. He vowed to continue to express himself “freely, with respect, and without hatred.”
Paris’ public prosecutor opened an investigation into the racist abuse and harassment.
Riner outlined his hopes for France’s youth, but hasn’t unveiled a campaign platform
Amid the unrest across France, Macron’s popularity rating dipped to just 15%, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s rating only slightly higher at 22%, according to a poll published in October.
“The French are very unhappy with the political status quo, so are perhaps more open to an outsider who promises to shake things up,” says Murray, suggesting the unstable political climate could work in Riner’s favor.
