Decathlon opened its first sporting-goods store in Lille, France, in 1976.
Michel Leclercq founded the company with the aim of bringing many sports together in one store. The first shop sold equipment and clothing for several activities, allowing customers to compare products in a single location. This broad-format approach distinguished Decathlon from specialist shops focused on only one sport.
Decathlon later developed its own in-house brands, including Quechua, Kalenji and Tribord. These labels cover activities such as hiking, running and water sports. The company’s integrated approach includes product design, manufacturing partnerships and retail distribution.
The retailer expanded internationally from its French base and became one of the world’s largest sporting-goods chains. Decathlon is often confused with Intersport because both operate internationally, but they are separate businesses with different origins and ownership structures.