03. NOVEMBER 2025 CELEBRATING ADI DASSLER: THE MAN WHO LEFT AN IMPRINT ON THE WORLD — BEYOND SPORTS.
On November 3rd, we celebrate Adi Dassler, whose name, vision, and three stripes continue to mark the world today. Born in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on November 3, 1900, Adi turned his passion for sports into a global phenomenon, founding adidas and revolutionizing sports.
The Man Behind the Shoe
But more interesting than his well-documented life and achievements, is the man himself—the man behind the shoe. The humble, hard worker who came from little and built a global company that is still one of the most iconic sports brands today. To this day, people around the world can step into one of Adi’s original designs and walk in his shoes.
Designs like the Samba, the Gazelle, and the Stan Smith all originated in the mid-20th century and still stride through the streets today.
The Art of Listening
What made Adi and his shoes stand the test of time? For those who knew him, the answer was simple: his ability to listen. For Adi, innovation started with empathy. He didn’t dictate what athletes needed; he asked, watched, and learned. Long before “user-centered design” became a phrase, Adi was living it. He would invite runners, footballers, and athletes from many different disciplines into his workshop, sit beside them, and ask questions—about movement, friction, weather, and feel. He took notes, observed, and adjusted until the shoe fit like an extension of the athlete.
Shoes Above Everything
Everyone in the family knew that when an idea struck, no piece of paper in the house was safe, be it a recipe on the kitchen counter or an important invitation on a fancy stationery; it didn’t matter. If he could write on it, Adi grabbed it—the need to get the idea down on paper outweighed that night’s dinner or next week’s social event.
Full House
But it wasn’t just his mind for shoes or his high ethical code in both life and work that led to his success; perhaps more than anything, it was his heart. He and his wife, Käthe, welcomed athletes into their family home with open arms, a good cup of coffee, and a warm slice of cake. Many athletes called Adi’s house their ‘home away from home’, staying in one of the guest rooms while they were in town and enjoying long walks and conversation with ‘the boss’ in his study. The athletes felt heard and cared for through Adi’s insightful observations, his willingness to listen, and his humble ability to recognize where he needed to improve.
Always Time for a Laugh
But Adi wasn’t all work and no play; he welcomed a good laugh or practical joke, like the one about his missing left index finger, which he lost to one of the leather punching machines at a young age. Leave it to Adi to see opportunity in loss; whenever children asked him what happened to his finger, his face grew sincere as he confessed that it happened while he was picking his nose: “The finger got stuck and came clean off.” Then he would chuckle with delight as the children’s faces displayed a mix of concern and wonder.
This is the Adi we remember and celebrate today: A visionary innovator. A humble craftsman. A friend and family man. The man who made everyone feel welcome and left an imprint far beyond sports.