From world No. 1 to sneaker icon: Stan Smith documentary now streaming

Missing tennis after the non-stop action of the US Open?

Don't worry, there’s plenty more on tap. Davis Cup is already underway, followed by Laver Cup next week in San Francisco—both streaming on Tennis Channel. And if you’re craving a mix of tennis and fashion history, you can now stream Who Is Stan Smith? on Hulu and ESPN+.

After a limited theatrical run in 2024, the documentary takes a closer look at American tennis champion and sneaker icon Stan Smith. If you’ve ever laced up a pair of crisp white sneakers and wondered, “Who is Stan Smith?”—this one’s for you.

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Smith, a former world No. 1 and seven-time major champion, went from being one of the game’s biggest stars to the face of Adidas when the brand launched the Stan Smith shoe in 1973. With his portrait and signature stamped on the white leather, the sneakers became Adidas’ all-time best seller and a pop culture staple across hip hop, celebrity fashion, and today’s tenniscore trend.

But Stan Smith is more than just a shoe. The film highlights his work as a civil rights and AIDS activist, as well as his lasting impact on the sport as president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame since 2011.

To mark the streaming release, Smith, 78, hosted a family-friendly book and sneaker signing at P.C. Richard & Son on the Upper West Side, followed by a special screening at the Seaport Racquet Club—an immersive pop-up created with Racquet Magazine—during the US Open. The event featured a panel with Smith, director Danny Lee, and author Mark Mathabane, whom Smith famously helped escape apartheid South Africa with a tennis scholarship in 1978.

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Naturally, the conversation turned to shoes. Asked how many pairs he owns, Smith laughed:

“It’s a question everybody asks, and I don’t know the answer," he told Forbes. "I think I own anywhere between 120 to 150 pairs of sneakers. I’ve got friends, though, that have anywhere from 300 to 450 shoes; some people are shoe collectors.”

Produced by UNINTERRUPTED and Fulwell Entertainment, and presented by P.C. Richard & Son and Disney Advertising, the film offers an intimate portrait of the Hall of Famer whose influence spans sports, fashion, and activism. It features interviews with Smith, his family, and voices including John McEnroe, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Cari Champion, Bob Lutz, Jerry Lorenzo, Charlie Pasarell, Pharrell Williams, and more.