Riner Shrugs Off Macron's Backing as a 'Poisoned Chalice' Ahead of 2027 Race

French judo great Teddy Riner, who recently entered the race for the 2027 presidential election, moved on Saturday to put distance between himself and President Emmanuel Macron, describing the head of state's unusual show of support as a burden rather than a boost.

Macron had said on Monday that Riner joining the contest could "only benefit the country," reacting to the popular judoka's announcement that he would run. The centrist president's words were a rare public blessing in a crowded and unsettled field.

Riner was having none of it. "I'm not the president's envoy," said the 37-year-old, who has won five Olympic gold medals over his decorated career.

"If I had to describe the president's congratulations, it would be more like a poisoned chalice," he added while visiting a trade fair dedicated to products made in France.

When he declared his candidacy on Monday, Riner said he feared France could soon become deeply divided. He appeared to cast himself as an option for voters reluctant to choose between what he framed as two political extremes, the far right and the hard left.

The sportsman, who hails from the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe, has insisted he is neither from the left nor the right. Even so, some critics have accused him of seeking to follow in Macron's footsteps, a charge his latest remarks seemed designed to shake off.

The backdrop is a president at record lows. Macron's popularity is the weakest it has been since he first took office in 2017, according to recent polls, as nationwide protests rock the country. That unpopularity helps explain why a candidate might treat his endorsement as toxic.

Opinion polls currently project far-right candidate Marine Le Pen winning the first round of next year's vote, with hard-left hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon qualifying to face her in the second round. The centre-right, meanwhile, has struggled to produce a single contender with a realistic shot at the presidency, and former prime minister Edouard Philippe has slipped from second to third place in surveys in recent months.

Riner has offered hints of his platform in an interview with the Le Parisien newspaper, saying he would favour pension reform and a reduction in social security contributions, positions that could appeal to centre-right voters. But he has also deplored that "a young person's future can be shattered just because they don't have the right connections, the right name or the right skin colour," language that could draw support from the left.