Businessman and Sports Innovator. Founder of Adidas, he was known for his many innovations in sporting footwear, including the spiked track shoe. Son of a shoemaker, he and his brother Rudolf founded their own shoe company, Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, in 1924. In 1925 they introduced the first soccer shoes with replaceable studs and running shoes with spikes. These shoes were very popular among the athletes at the 1936 Olympics. Jesse Owens used them while winning his four gold medals. Both brothers joined the Nazi Party in 1933. After the war, he was able to reclaim his business due to the testimony of a number of American athletes in his favor, but his brother Rudolf was held prisoner for a year, which led to a rift, as Rudolf thought he had been accused by his brother of being in the SS. This rift would last the rest of their lives. They split the company, with Rudolf founding Puma and his brother renaming his half Adidas (a play on his name). In 1954, Adidas provided the equipment for the German national team in the 1954 World Cup (where he was also the equipment manager). As the final was played in a heavy rain, the use of Adidas shoes with studs gave the German team a advantage over the favored Hungarians, and Germany won the title in a major upset. This led to Adidas' recognition on the world stage as a major player in the sporting goods business. At the time of his death, he held over 700 patents.
Businessman and Sports Innovator. Founder of Adidas, he was known for his many innovations in sporting footwear, including the spiked track shoe. Son of a shoemaker, he and his brother Rudolf founded their own shoe company, Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, in 1924. In 1925 they introduced the first soccer shoes with replaceable studs and running shoes with spikes. These shoes were very popular among the athletes at the 1936 Olympics. Jesse Owens used them while winning his four gold medals. Both brothers joined the Nazi Party in 1933. After the war, he was able to reclaim his business due to the testimony of a number of American athletes in his favor, but his brother Rudolf was held prisoner for a year, which led to a rift, as Rudolf thought he had been accused by his brother of being in the SS. This rift would last the rest of their lives. They split the company, with Rudolf founding Puma and his brother renaming his half Adidas (a play on his name). In 1954, Adidas provided the equipment for the German national team in the 1954 World Cup (where he was also the equipment manager). As the final was played in a heavy rain, the use of Adidas shoes with studs gave the German team a advantage over the favored Hungarians, and Germany won the title in a major upset. This led to Adidas' recognition on the world stage as a major player in the sporting goods business. At the time of his death, he held over 700 patents.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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