Adolf "Adi" Dassler

Adidas is a global sportswear brand known for its iconic three-stripe logo and innovative athletic shoes. It was founded in 1924 by German cobbler Adolf "Adi" Dassler in the small town of Herzogenaurach.

Adi Dassler made athletic shoes for Jesse Owens to wear at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where Owens won 4 gold medals, catapulting Adidas to international fame.

In 1948, a bitter feud caused the Dassler brothers to split their shoe company into two rival brands, Adidas and Puma, dividing their hometown for generations.

The Adidas name combines "Adi" and "Das" from Dassler's nickname. The Dassler family continued running Adidas until it went public in 1995.

Starting in his mother's laundry room, Adi Dassler pioneered athletic shoes with replaceable spikes for track and field. His shoes gained worldwide recognition after Jesse Owens wore them to win gold at the 1936 Olympics. However, a feud between Adi and his brother Rudolf caused the Dassler company to split into Adidas and Puma in 1948, dividing their small German town of Herzogenaurach. Adi named his new company by combining the first syllables of his nickname "Adi" and last name "Das." Adidas continued as a family-run business until the 1990s. Today, Adidas remains a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel. The iconic three-stripe logo and focus on innovation maintain the legacy of founder Adi Dassler.