Q 01/05

Nike was founded in 1964 under what name?

A) Oregon Track Company

B) Swoosh Athletics

C) Waffle Sole Inc.

D) Blue Ribbon Sports

Answer · why

D) Blue Ribbon Sports

Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman started out selling Japanese Onitsuka Tiger shoes from the boot of Knight's car at track meets.

Q 02/05

How much was design student Carolyn Davidson paid in 1971 for creating the Nike Swoosh?

A) $350

B) $35

C) $35,000

D) $3,500

Answer · why

B) $35

Knight's verdict at the time was "Well, I don't love it, but maybe it will grow on me"; in 1983 he gave her a diamond Swoosh ring and company stock.

Q 03/05

Nike's Swoosh was meant to suggest the wings of which figure?

A) The Greek goddess of victory

B) The Roman god Mercury

C) A Pacific albatross

D) An Oregon eagle

Answer · why

A) The Greek goddess of victory

Nike herself gives the company its name; Davidson designed the mark to convey motion.

Q 04/05

Adidas takes its name from its founder. What was he called?

A) Adam Dassau

B) Adrian Dasco

C) Adolf "Adi" Dassler

D) Adelbert Distler

Answer · why

C) Adolf "Adi" Dassler

He started making sports shoes in his mother's laundry room in Herzogenaurach after World War I.

Q 05/05

When the Dassler brothers fell out in 1947, Rudolf founded a rival firm that became which brand?

A) Umbro

B) Reebok

C) Fila

D) Puma

Answer · why

D) Puma

He first called it Ruda, from Rudolf Dassler; the two companies still face each other across the same small German town.