Chinese Humanoid Robots Outrun Usain Bolt at Beijing Games
A Chinese humanoid robot completed the 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds on Saturday, running faster than the human world record set by Usain Bolt.
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| Credit: Xinhua |
The machine, named Tiangong Ultra, won its preliminary heat at the National Speed Skating Oval during the opening day of the second World Humanoid Robot Games.
Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, trailed behind a competing machine named Lightning early in the race before passing it near the finish line.
Lightning, built by smartphone maker Honor, crossed the line in 9.47 seconds. Both machines finished below the 9.58-second human record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
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| Credit: EPA |
State broadcaster CCTV reported that Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during a practice run earlier on Saturday, where it registered an unofficial time of 9.32 seconds.
Engineers modified Lightning's physical structure before the games to increase stride length.
CCTV reported details regarding the structural adjustments made to the machine:
"Its researchers later lengthened its legs by 10 cm, to 1.05 metres, ahead of the games."
The race times demonstrate a steep year-over-year mechanical progression.
At the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in 2025, Tiangong Ultra won the 100-meter sprint event with a time of 21.50 seconds. The robot trimmed 12.11 seconds off its previous time in 16 months.
A separate humanoid machine manufactured by X-Humanoid broke the standing high jump record on the same afternoon. The robot cleared 2.88 meters, surpassing the 2.45-meter human record set by Cuban jumper Javier Sotomayor in 1993.
The machines demonstrated top speed and jumping force, but stopping mechanisms remained unrefined.
Tiangong Ultra crashed into protective foam padding past the finish line, pushing back event staff who stood near the boundary.
Lightning collapsed onto the track immediately after completing its sprint, requiring technicians to transport it off the floor on a stretcher.
Watch here:
在北京世界人形机器人运动会上，一个人形机器人以 9.39 秒的成绩跑完 100 米，打破了博尔特 9.58 秒的世界纪录！ pic.twitter.com/eE4LnQ0qvu
— Eason Mao☢ (@KELMAND1) August 23, 2026
Across other events, multiple robots experienced mechanical failures. Several machines lost balance during hurdle tests, fell apart upon impact, or caught fire after crossing the finish line.
The 2026 event expanded its scope compared to its inaugural year.
Organizers registered 2,056 robots representing 666 teams from 16 nations.
Competitions span 51 categories, including track events, soccer, combat sports, and practical tasks.
Practical scenario events grew from six last year to 21 this year. Robots competed in fine-motor skill tests that evaluated hand dexterity, including picking beans, stacking blocks, and mixing powders.
State media outlined the primary commercial focus of the tournament.
State-run Xinhua News Agency reported the industrial objective behind the athletic exhibition:
"the goal of these games is to turn award records into robot orders and to let robots that leave the arena head straight to industrial sites."
The public display of robotic capability arrives as Western governments increase regulatory scrutiny on Chinese technology exports.
The United States Federal Communications Commission announced an import ban targeting foreign-made humanoid robots last month, citing national security risks.
The United States Department of Defense added Shanghai-based Unitree Robotics to its list of companies operating with Chinese military ties.
Chinese trade records show domestic manufacturers supplied 40,000 humanoid units in the first half of 2026, representing 97% of global output.
Investor funding into the sector reached new high points this week.
Unitree Robotics completed its initial public offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Wednesday, where its share price increased fivefold during its first day of trading. The listing gave Unitree a market valuation of $50 billion.
The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, which created Tiangong Ultra, operates as a state-backed entity. Electronics maker Xiaomi and robotics firm UBTech hold ownership stakes in the consortium alongside state enterprises.
