Chinese Humanoid Robots Break Human 100-Metre Record at Beijing Games

A Chinese humanoid robot has run the 100 metres faster than the human world record at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.

Tiangong Ultra recorded a time of 9.39 seconds in a preliminary heat, beating Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second mark. Another robot, Honor’s Lightning, also finished under the human record. The event is part of a broader competition featuring more than 2,000 robots across 51 disciplines, ranging from athletics to industrial tasks and creative performances.

The robots remain limited by battery life, balance on uneven surfaces and the complexity of real-world decision-making. Yet the spectacle underscores rapid progress in bipedal locomotion, power density and control algorithms. Organisers and manufacturers present the games as both a technological showcase and a test bed for robots intended for logistics, elderly care and hazardous environments.

Critics note that controlled track conditions differ markedly from the unstructured settings where practical utility will ultimately be judged. Still, the performances mark a visible milestone in the public demonstration of humanoid capabilities and have drawn international attention to China’s growing robotics sector.