Riner won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics - but is now changing course.
The 37-year-old announced on Monday morning that he will run in the French presidential election in 2027.
“I am not just a judoka. I will not accept being called just an athlete who is expected to step on the podium without having a say in anything else,” he said, according to Le Parisien.
“My decision is carefully considered. I am running to say that we can rebuild France.”
Emmanuel Macron has been president of France since 2017.
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