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Chinese humanoid robots break records at Beijing games
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The gist
Chinese humanoid robot Lightning ran 100m in 9.32 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's 9.58 record. The feat signals China's rapid progress in humanoid robotics.
Background
The World Humanoid Robot Games, held in Beijing, feature over 2,000 robots competing in sports and scenario-based tasks. The event showcases China's growing dominance in humanoid robotics, with many robots operating autonomously. The games coincide with the World Robot Conference, highlighting the country's push in AI and robotics.
How it unfolded
- Apr 2026Lightning won the Beijing half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the elite men's human world-record pace.
- Aug 22, 2026At the World Humanoid Robot Games opening, Lightning ran 100m in 9.32 seconds, beating Bolt's record. Another robot cleared 2.88m in high jump, surpassing the human record.
- Aug 23, 2026Reports confirm the records, noting braking issues as robots crashed into mats after the finish line.
Who’s saying what
- Spectator
- Li Yanfeng, a Beijing resident, said humanoid robots are 'evolving rapidly.'
- Organizer
- Organizers and robot makers said Chinese humanoid robots defeated human world records, showcasing technological progress.
Still unverified
The exact timing of the 9.32-second run is from a test run, not the official competition; the official race result was 9.39 seconds by a different robot.