US track champion Abby Steiner is taking her fight into court, suing Puma and the Mercedes Formula 1 team after alleging the companies' shoe design contributed to injuries that derailed her competitive career.
Filed April 24th in Massachusetts Superior Court, the suit claims the shoes and spikes were “defective” and “unsafe," saying the design increased risk factors for bone stress injuries, foot injuries, and additional strain.
Because Mercedes was involved in the design and sale of Puma footwear referenced in the complaint, it is also named in the lawsuit.
Steiner, an NCAA champion at Kentucky and two-time world champion relay gold medalist, emerged as a rising names in US track during her breakout 2022 season. She signed with Puma that July in a deal widely reported to be worth some $2 million.
While Steiner helped the US win gold in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays at the 2022 World Championships, the lawsuit says the trouble began after she started wearing Puma footwear in September of that year.
According to the complaint, those injuries led to multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation between 2023 and 2025, subsequently ending her career and keeping her from competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Saying she suffered “severe and permanent injuries," Steiner is seeking financial damages tied to lost sponsorships, medical expenses, and a decreased quality of life.
Court records currently show no defendants have filed a response or attorney appearance with the court. A response is due by August 24th.
