Who founded the German sportswear brand Adidas in 1949?

Adolf Dassler founded the German sportswear brand Adidas in 1949.

Dassler, widely known as Adi, registered Adidas on August 18, 1949. The name is commonly explained as a blend of Adi, his nickname, and Dassler, his surname. Before creating Adidas, he had worked with his older brother Rudolf in a shoe business in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria.

The brothers' partnership ended after a personal and business split. Rudolf went on to establish Puma, creating one of the most famous rivalries in sportswear history. Adidas and Puma were both rooted in the same German town, and their competition influenced local workplaces, athletics and football culture for decades.

Adidas became strongly associated with football and international sport. Its three-stripe design was acquired from the Finnish company Karhu Sports in 1952, although the brand later developed many other logos and product lines. A common mistake is to give the founder's nickname, Adi Dassler, as though it were his full name; the canonical personal name is Adolf Dassler.