Teddy Riner has conquered judo. Now he wants to run France.

The 37-year-old multiple Olympic champion announced on social media Monday that he is running in next year's French presidential election. Riner, one of the most popular public figures in the country, described himself as "neither right-wing nor left-wing" in a newspaper interview and said he hopes to be a "president who brings people together."

Asked whether his bid should be taken seriously, Riner said "what would be irresponsible would be to remain silent and stand by as a spectator to what is happening in our country."

A divided country

The race comes during a tense period in France. Protest marches have drawn huge crowds for weeks in Paris and other cities as demonstrators push for higher wages and back a student protest movement.

"The country is experiencing deep divisions right now, let's not kid ourselves," Riner said. "I'm running for president to show that we can get France back on its feet. We are capable of achieving great things together."

Polls show nationalist Marine Le Pen as the front-runner to succeed Emmanuel Macron, ahead of hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon. To get on the ballot, Riner will need 500 sponsorship signatures from elected officials, as French law requires.

Still chasing gold

The 6-foot-8 heavyweight and 11-time world champion said in September that he wants to finish his career with a fourth individual Olympic gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He is not giving up on that dream. "Not if my duties as president allow it and the French people give me their blessing," he said.

French authorities investigated online racial abuse aimed at Riner in September after he spoke out about the rise of the far right.

He even had some fun with the idea of meeting world leaders. "A lot of people around me have been talking about my first handshake with Donald Trump," he said with a laugh. "We'll see who has the firmer handshake."