Teddy Riner competes in a match during the Olympic Games in Paris on Aug. 2, 2024.Luke Hales/Getty Images

How to win friends and throw people: Judo’s big impact on politics – POLITICO

13 Nov 2026, 03:00 by Paul Dallison · POLITICO

Welcome to Declassified, a weekly humor column.

“You join us live from Paris for this live presidential election debate. We have heard from all the candidates, and now it’s time for the judo.”

Yes, the 2027 French presidential election got a sizeable — as in 2.04 meters, or 6 feet 6 inches in old money — wrinkle this week, with Olympic star Teddy Riner throwing (pun intended) his hat in the ring.