The global sportswear giants Adidas and Puma may be fierce competitors today, but their origins are rooted in a bitter family feud between two brothers, Adolf ("Adi") Dassler and Rudolf Dassler.
In the 1920s, the Dassler brothers ran a successful shoe company together, the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, in their hometown of Herzogenaurach, Germany. Their brand even gained international recognition when Jesse Owens wore their shoes while winning gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
However, tensions between the two escalated during World War II, leading to a major falling-out. The details of their dispute remain unclear, but the rift was so deep that in 1948, they dissolved their partnership for good.
Adi Dassler went on to create Adidas (a combination of his first and last name), while Rudolf Dassler founded Puma. Their rivalry was so intense that it divided their small hometown—residents and factory workers aligned with either Adidas or Puma, creating a town split between two brands.
Despite their immense success, the brothers never reconciled, taking their feud to the grave. Today, Adidas and Puma remain two of the biggest names in the sportswear industry, proving that even a family dispute can lead to history-changing innovation.
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