A Chinese humanoid robot ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday. The time is faster than Usain Bolt’s human world record of 9.58 seconds.
DR reports that the robot Tiangong Ultra set the time during the sports event in the Chinese capital. Bolt set his record of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in athletics in Berlin.
Near the finish line, Tiangong Ultra passed another machine, Lightning, built by the smartphone maker Honor. Lightning crossed in 9.47 seconds, so it also finished below Bolt’s mark, according to DR.
BBC News reported that the 9.39-second run came in a preliminary heat at the opening of the games’ second edition. The broadcaster added that Tiangong Ultra was developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center.
Global Times reported that the run broke both the tournament record and the human world record. The outlet noted that the race took place at the “Ice Ribbon” stadium, and that Tiangong Ultra also set a high jump mark at the games.
Second edition with 51 disciplines
The 100 meters is one of 51 disciplines at the games, which also include soccer and dance, DR writes. This year 2,056 robots from 16 countries and six continents took part, compared with 280 teams at last year’s edition.
Reuters reported, citing China’s state broadcaster CCTV, that Honor’s Lightning ran 100 meters in 9.32 seconds at a preparatory test event before the games. That run had a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second, and researchers had lengthened the robot’s legs before the competition.
Saturday’s result marked a large improvement for Tiangong Ultra, which won the 100 meters at last year’s inaugural games in 21.50 seconds, according to DR. The same year it won what was billed as the world’s first half marathon for humanoid robots, also held in Beijing.
That half marathon title went to Lightning at this year’s event, with a time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds, DR writes, citing Reuters. Humanoids Daily reported in April 2026 that Honor swept the podium at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Half Marathon.
Why now
The record runs came on the opening weekend of the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which BBC News and Global Times describe as an Olympics-style event for humanoid machines. China has highlighted humanoid robots as a strategic growth industry, DR writes, citing Reuters.
Both Chinese authorities and companies are betting that advances in artificial intelligence and hardware will make the robots more widespread. They are expected to be used in production and logistics, and in products and services aimed at consumers. Fortune linked the games directly to that national push in robotics and AI.
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