Champion Allison, an alum of George Ranch High School in Richmond, Texas, celebrates winning the men’s 4x400m relay final during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
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One of Houston’s best track and field stars may have had his career permanently derailed by a pair of shoes.
Champion Allison, an alum of George Ranch High School in Richmond, has filed a pair of lawsuits accusing international sportswear brand Puma of causing severe injuries that have likely ended his career as a sprinter.
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Allison filed the lawsuit alongside Jamaican Olympian Daniel Thomas Jr. The suit also names Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd., a Puma partner involved in developing some of its athletic shoes. The two sprinters allege that these companies failed to disclose that the sprint shoes could place excessive and unnecessary stress on athletes’ feet and lower legs, leading to severe injuries. Furthermore, Allison claims that the shoes were poorly designed, inadequately tested and sold without sufficient warnings.
The two shoes listed in the lawsuits are the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3, which retail for $140 and $230, respectively. Both shoes feature a carbon fiber plate and NITROFOAM technology, which helps transmit a runner’s force through their feet and lower limbs while striding.
Champion Allison, a Houston native and graduate of Richmond George Ranch, won the 6A boys’ 4×400-meter relay at the UIL state track and field meet in 2017.
Stephen Spillman/Dallas Morning News
“As professional athletes, our bodies are our livelihoods. When you sign with a major brand, you trust that the equipment they put on your feet has been tested and is safe,” Allison said in a statement to SlowTwitch. “You don’t expect that what they’re giving you might end your career. If there are dangers or risks, that is something they need to tell people.”
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Allison signed with Puma in 2022 after a prolific collegiate career at the University of Florida, where he won SEC indoor and outdoor championships as a 400-meter sprinter. The Houston native represented the United States at the 2022 World Championships, winning gold on the men’s 4×400 relay team. According to USA Track and Field, he also owns the 10th-fastest 400-meter dash time with a 43.70.
However starting in 2023, Allison missed significant time with an undisclosed injury. When he returned to competition in 2024 and 2025, he posted times seconds slower than his peak times from years prior. While Allison has not retired from the sport, his Instagram shows he’s working in real estate and the cannabis industry.
Both Puma and Mercedes have declined to comment on pending litigation, but Puma vehemently denied any allegation that its products cause injuries.
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“On the contrary, our products are worn by athletes performing at the top of their game in distance running and track and field, breaking records, including the world record in 60m hurdles, pole vault, and high jump,” Puma said in a statement to NBC Boston. “We consistently collaborate with our athletes to provide products that meet their needs.”
International sportswear maker Puma is in hot water over their shoes for world-class sprinters.
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Another issue in the matter is the performance shoe industry’s potential reckoning with the “super shoe” era, an angle the plaintiff’s attorneys are pushing. As the push to improve performance and chase records continues, there are concerns within the industry about whether these shoes are actually safe for the athletes in the long term.
“These companies have prioritized the promise of speed over safety, and the consequences reach far beyond elite athletes,” Peter J. Flowers said in a statement, as the attorney who represents Allison and Thomas. “An Olympian or world champion has access to specialists, trainers and lawyers. A high school kid whose foot is hurting is going to the local urgent care, being told to take some time off, and never knowing why. We may be looking at tens of thousands of people who have been seriously hurt and have no idea what caused it.”
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Allison is seeking compensatory and medical damages, as his career derailment could make the damages request substantial, depending on the evidence regarding lost earnings, sponsorship opportunities, and future competitive prospects. As of now, the lawsuits don’t specify a monetary demand.