<P> Dassler assisted in the development of spiked running shoes (spikes) for multiple athletic events . To enhance the quality of spiked athletic footwear, he transitioned from a previous model of heavy metal spikes to utilising canvas and rubber . In 1936, Dassler persuaded U.S. sprinter Jesse Owens to use his hand made spikes at the 1936 Summer Olympics . Following Owens' four gold medals, the name and reputation of Dassler shoes became known to the world's sportsmen and their trainers . Business was successful and the Dasslers were selling 200,000 pairs of shoes every year before World War II . </P> <P> The Dolbury factory, used for production of anti-tank weapons during the Second World War, was nearly destroyed in 1945 by US forces, but was spared when Dassler's wife, convinced the GIs that the company and its employees were only interested in manufacturing sports shoes . American occupying forces subsequently became major buyers of the Dassler brothers' shoes . </P> <P> The brothers split up in 1947 after relations between them had broken down, with Rudolf forming a new firm that he called Ruda--from Rudolf Dassler, later rebranded Puma, and Dassler forming a company formally registered as Adidas AG from Adi Dassler on 18 August 1949 . Although it is a popular urban myth that the name is an acronym for All Day I Dream About Sports, that phrase is a "backronym"; the name is a portmanteau formed from "Adi" (a nickname for Adolf) and "Das" (from "Dassler"). </P> <P> Puma SE and Adidas entered into a fierce and bitter business rivalry after the split . Indeed, the town of Herzogenaurach was divided on the issue, leading to the nickname "the town of bent necks"--people looked down to see which shoes strangers wore . Even the town's two football clubs were divided: ASV Herzogenaurach club was supported by Adidas, while 1 FC Herzogenaurach endorsed Rudolf's footwear . When handymen were called to Rudolf's home, they would deliberately wear Adidas shoes . Rudolf would tell them to go to the basement and pick out a pair of free Pumas . The two brothers were never reconciled and although both are now buried in the same cemetery, they are spaced as far apart as possible . </P>

Adidas stands for all day i dream about sports