Reebok

The company was founded by Joseph William Foster in Bolton, England, in 1895. In 1924, the company equipped the British participants at the Olympic Games in Paris. During the 1980s, Reebok celebrated great success as an early adopter of aerobics shoes. Since the late 1970s, the company has been American but maintains the British tradition, including through sponsorship of the football team Bolton Wanderers FC.

Reebok has a strong position in the important US market. Reebok has several sponsorships in NBA basketball and NFL football. In 2004, Reebok bought Jofa to strengthen its position in ice hockey. Reebok's presence in these important markets was a major reason for Adidas' purchase of the company in 2005.

The name Reebok comes from the word rhebok, Afrikaans for roebuck antelope.