Brothers Divided: The Astonishing Origin Story of Puma and Adidas

A Big Boost Arrives

As with many businesses, the early days of the Dassler Brothers Sports Shoe Factory were quite a testing time, and the brand didn’t just take off immediately, but it did eventually catch the attention of a very important man named Josef Waitzer.

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Josef Waitzer. Source: Wikipedia

Waitzer was a former Olympic athlete who then went on to coach the Olympic track and field team for Germany. He heard about the Dassler brothers and their shoes and traveled to meet them, forming a strong friendship with Adi in particular. He helped the brothers get their shoes onto the feet of some prominent athletes.

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