U.S. Sprinter Abby Steiner Sues Puma and Mercedes-F1 Over Alleged Defective Footwear

On April 24, 2026, U.S. sprinter Abby Steiner filed a suit in Massachusetts Superior Court against Puma SE and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. She alleges that Puma’s Deviate Nitro Elite 2 and 3 and evoSPEED Tokyo Nitro spikes—using carbon-fiber plates and NitroFoam technology developed with Mercedes-F1—altered runners’ biomechanics, causing foot injuries that ended her career. Steiner seeks over $1.25 million for medical costs, lost sponsorship revenue, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Fox News (website)Track Star Abby Steiner is Suing Puma Over Defective Shoe ClaimsWorld champion sprinter sues Puma, claiming defective shoesEXEC: U.S. Track Star Sues Puma, Charging Shoes Ended Running CareerU.S. Track Champion Abby Steiner Sues Puma, Mercedes Over Alleged Defective Shoes

Steiner, a two-time world-champion relay gold-medalist, NCAA champion and U.S. indoor record holder in the 200 m and 300 m, signed a reported $2 million Puma endorsement in July 2022. The deal introduced high-performance spikes co-engineered with Mercedes-Benz’s Formula 1 team, a collaboration noted by Puma CEO Björn Gulden in a 2021 release.

U.S. Track Champion Abby Steiner Sues Puma, Mercedes Over Alleged Defective Shoes

Steiner began using the shoes in September 2022. She had bone-spur removal and Haglund’s deformity surgery on her left heel in 2023, a second heel operation in 2024, and a third foot surgery in 2025. She placed sixth in the 200 m at the 2024 Olympic Trials and withdrew from competition in August 2025 to pursue a master’s in exercise science. The complaint cites at least three surgeries, lists the shoe models, and seeks over $1.25 million in damages.

World champion sprinter sues Puma, claiming defective shoes

The suit underscores risks when elite footwear uses motorsport-derived technology. A judgment against Puma or Mercedes-F1 could tighten safety testing for sprint spikes, affect sponsorship contracts, and influence how athletic brands partner with engineering firms.

EXEC: U.S. Track Star Sues Puma, Charging Shoes Ended Running Career

Puma has not commented, and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. has not appeared. The complaint asserts companies knew the shoes could cause bone-stress injuries but failed to warn consumers.

EXEC: U.S. Track Star Sues Puma, Charging Shoes Ended Running Career

Sources differ on the number of surgeries—some cite three, others five. Damages sought are described as “more than $1.25 million” in some reports and as an unspecified sum in others. No independent medical testimony has been released.

Columbus Dispatch

• “changed the foot and ankle mechanics during running that may contribute to or increase the risk of injury.” — Abby Steiner, lawsuit complaint

EXEC: U.S. Track Star Sues Puma, Charging Shoes Ended Running Career

• “In August 2024, she posted a photo of her booted left foot from a hospital bed, writing, “We threw essentially every single thing you can do for a foot at my symptoms, yet I was struggling big time.” — Abby Steiner, Instagram post, August 2024

New York Post

• “To make the best spikes for our athletes, that comply with the regulations, we connected the engineers of Mercedes AGM Petronas F1 with our best footwear people,” — Björn Gulden, Puma CEO, 2021 release

EXEC: U.S. Track Star Sues Puma, Charging Shoes Ended Running Career

• “are unsafe, unreasonably dangerous, defective, and capable of causing injury and harm to consumers during ordinary, anticipated and foreseeable uses.” — Abby Steiner, lawsuit complaint

EXEC: U.S. Track Star Sues Puma, Charging Shoes Ended Running Career

Defendants must file a response by August 24, 2026. If the case proceeds to trial, it could set precedent for liability claims involving advanced athletic equipment and trigger industry-wide design reviews.

Columbus Dispatch