For the 1936 Summer Olympics, Adi Dassler drove from Bavaria to the Olympic village with a suitcase full of spikes and persuaded United States sprinter Jesse Owens to use them, creating the first sponsorship for an African-American. After Owens won four gold medals, his success cemented the reputation of Dassler shoes among the world's most famous sportsmen. Letters from around the world landed on the brothers' desks, and trainers from national teams were interested in their shoes. Business boomed and the Dasslers were selling 200,000 pairs of shoes each year before World War II.

Today, the company manufactures adidas running shoes as well as adidas originals shoes, adidas campus shoes, and apparel and equipment for soccer, football, rugby, basketball and other sports. Shop adidasoriginalssale.com for popular classic styles including adidas forum shoes and adidas Samba sneakers.