U.S. track star Abby Steiner suing Puma, Mercedes F1 over claim shoes caused injuries

Steiner alleges the products "are unsafe, unreasonably dangerous, defective and capable of causing injury." Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Share articleAmerican track and field world champion Abby Steiner is suing Puma and Mercedes’ Formula 1 team for alleged negligent products liability, after numerous injuries that have impacted and derailed her sprinting career. The 26-year-old sprinter claims the shoe designs, as well as the carbon fiber plate and/or nitrofoam technology “changed the foot and ankle mechanics during running that may contribute to or increase the risk of injury.” The lawsuit was filed in Middlesex County Superior Court in Massachusetts on April 24. Steiner, who is a two-time world champion, a four-time NCAA national champion and holds the U.S. indoor record for the 200m and 300m sprints, alleges the products “seriously injured” her, specifically those with the carbon fiber plate (CFP) and/or nitrofoam technology (NF). The Athletic contacted Mercedes and Puma for a statement and received no comment from the latter and no response from the former. Four of the products mentioned in the lawsuit, though with the caveat of “the products in question include, but are not limited to,” are the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 and 3, evoSpeed Tokyo Nitro, evoSPEED Tokyo Nitro 400M, and any others that utilize the plate or foam. According to the lawsuit filing, Steiner alleges the products “are unsafe, unreasonably dangerous, defective and capable of causing injury and harms to consumers during ordinary, anticipated and foreseeable uses.” Mercedes’ involvement is not related to motorsports; it is more technical in nature, with engineering insights from the F1 world helping in the design and development of track and field spikes. The filing claims that Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix “was involved in and had control over the design, development, testing, manufacture, marketing, promotion, advertisement, sale, importation and distribution of a variety of PUMA footwear, including the PUMA SHOES and component parts at issue in this Complaint.” Puma began sponsoring Steiner in 2022. The University of Kentucky alum used the shoes in competitions and for training, stating in the lawsuit she wore them “with the reasonable expectation that they were properly designed, developed, tested, manufactured, marketed, promoted, advertised, sold and distributed free from defects of any kind, and that they were safe for their intended, foreseeable use during training and competitions.” By 2025, Steiner had undergone multiple surgeries and rehabilitations for her foot injuries. In 2024, she posted about her struggles on Instagram, saying that while training due to it being an Olympic year, “I was often limping around before & after my practices and getting through on sheer willpower to fulfill a lifelong dream.” The lawsuit touches on how the defendants “represented, warranted, advertised, promoted and marketed” the products, such as “claiming they were redesigned for explosive, race day propulsion. “A CFP ensures stability and maximum running efficiency,”the filing states, “while NF offers supreme cushioning that won’t weigh you down. It is a running go-to.” Steiner claims that the defendants were aware of defects that made the products “unsafe, unreasonably dangerous, defective and capable of causing injury and harm to consumers during ordinary, anticipated and foreseeable uses.” And she alleged that they did not report the defects or injuries to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission. According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly were aware that the products with “CFP and/or NF technology altered the biomechanics of runners or the manner in which the stresses of running impact their bodies,” “caused bone stress injuries,” “increased the likelihood of foot injuries,” and caused irregular strain on runners’ feet. Steiner, though, was not aware, and the injuries led to the end of her sprinting career. She said in August 2025 that she was “taking a step back from running.” Per the filing: “As a direct and proximate cause of the severe and permanent injuries the PUMA SHOES caused Plaintiff, she is unable to run competitively, including at the professional and Olympic level.” Steiner is suing on multiple different counts: negligent products liability for manufacturing and design defects as well as failure to warn. There is a fourth count, the overarching umbrella of negligence, and the last two counts focus on breach of warranty, specifically merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms