Star sprinter Abby Steiner called out “harmful” speculation over her pro contract that ran rampant on social media over the weekend.
Steiner shattered the collegiate record in the women’s 200-meter dash at the NCAA track and field finals in June with a time of 21.80 seconds to cap her senior year at Kentucky. She won the national title in the same event just a few weeks later at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, finishing with a time of 21.77.
In the wake of her stellar June, a report emerged Monday on Twitter from Sacramento State track coach Kenny McDaniel claiming that Steiner had signed a $2 million deal with Puma.
Yet, while the sprinter acknowledged that she plans to sign an endorsement deal and go pro, she does not plan to make any deal official until July 14, reported Press Pros Magazine’s Steve Blackledge.
Steiner posted a statement on her personal Twitter account decrying the speculation.
“People trying to leak my deal and contract have been some of the most invasive and bothersome narratives I have seen,” the statement reads. “This information is between my sponsor and me. Any source outside of that is simply speculation.”
Steiner also called on members of the news media to do their due diligence in reporting and fact-checking.
“My income is not on public record, nor should it be reported as such,” the statement reads. “Any reporter should know this, and reporting otherwise is extremely harmful in a time period of my life that is already stressful.
“Please keep in mind that athletes are human. We are worth more than being used in attempts to gain social media likes. A simple DM to me could have prevented false narratives in our track community.”
pic.twitter.com/M3clQqgXgA— Abby Steiner (@abbysteiner1) July 5, 2022
pic.twitter.com/M3clQqgXgA