When a rising star in track and field suddenly disappears from the winner's circle, the sports world takes notice. For Abby Steiner, the U.S. indoor record holder in the 200-meter and 300-meter events, her remarkable ascent has been derailed by a series of injuries—and now she's pointing the finger at her own footwear.

In a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts Superior Court on April 24, the 26-year-old sprinter alleges that Puma and the Mercedes Formula 1 Team produced "defective" shoes that "seriously injured" her and "changed the foot and ankle mechanics during running," increasing her risk of injury. Steiner, who also holds the NCAA record in the 200-meter, claims the shoes named in the suit—including the Deviate Nitro Elite 2 and 3, evoSpeed Tokyo Nitro, and evoSPEED Tokyo Nitro 400M—"are unsafe, unreasonably dangerous, defective and capable of causing injury" during normal use.

The timeline is striking. Steiner began her sponsorship with Puma in 2022 while competing for the University of Kentucky. Since then, she has endured multiple injuries and extensive rehab, according to The Athletic. Her last competition came at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she finished sixth in the 200-meter—a far cry from the podium finishes that once defined her career.

The lawsuit also names Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, alleging the team was "involved in and had control over the design, development, testing, manufacture, marketing, promotion, advertisement, sale, importation and distribution" of the footwear in question.

Puma has responded, telling multiple outlets that it "cannot comment on active litigation" but has denied the allegations. For Steiner, a former NCAA champion and one of the most promising sprinters in the country, the stakes couldn't be higher. This case raises serious questions about athlete safety and the performance promises made by major sportswear brands.