Teddy Riner addresses racist insults and political concerns in France

French Olympic judoka Teddy Riner has addressed recent racist insults directed at him following his public concerns regarding the rise of the far right in France. Speaking on the program ‘C à vous’, Riner expressed anxiety about national division and the future for his children, stating that he intends to take legal action against those who cross the line. He emphasized that his comments were not directed against a specific party but were a reaction to the nature of the responses he received.

In response to the political stances taken by athletes like Riner and footballer Kylian Mbappé, French deputy Stéphane Rambaud has criticized the idea of sports figures acting as moral guides for the nation. Rambaud, a black belt judoka himself, argued that ‘talent is not a mandate’ and ‘notoriety is not a program’. He suggested that high-profile athletes may be disconnected from the daily economic and social struggles of French citizens, such as declining purchasing power, public debt, and insecurity.