A humanoid robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center ran the 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds during a preliminary heat at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, according to organizers. The performance outpaced the men’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009, marking a notable milestone for the event’s second annual gathering.
Record-Breaking Runs at the National Speed Skating Oval
The competition, held at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval and known locally as the “Ice Ribbon,” brought together 2,056 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries and six continents, according to event organizers. During the preliminary heats on Saturday, August 22, 2026, the robot named Tiangong Ultra won its heat after overtaking a competitor named Lightning, built by smartphone maker Honor, according to Reuters reports.
Lightning finished its heat in 9.47 seconds. Earlier on Saturday, Chinese state media reported that Lightning had clocked a 100-meter time of 9.32 seconds during a preparatory test, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second, Reuters noted. Both preliminary times fell below the human world record established by Bolt at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
The high-speed runs ended abruptly due to stopping limitations. Footage from the event showed the machines slamming into thick mats designed to halt their momentum. According to CBS News, Tiangong Ultra stumbled wildly into the sidelines, while Lightning collapsed to the ground and was subsequently carried away on a stretcher.
A separate machine created by X-Humanoid broke the human standing high jump record by reaching 2.88 meters, surpassing the 2.45-meter record set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993, CBS News reported. Not all entries shared the same success; organizers and media observed several units tripping, falling, smashing into pieces, or catching fire during various competition events.
Contrasting Previous Results and Technological Progress
The 2026 results represent a distinct performance leap compared to the inaugural tournament held the previous year. During the first iteration of the games, Tiangong Ultra completed the 100-meter distance in 21.50 seconds, according to Reuters. Tiangong also previously won the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing.
Ahead of the 2026 events, researchers modified Lightning by lengthening its legs by 10 centimeters to a total of 1.05 meters, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Lightning also secured victory in this year’s humanoid half-marathon with a time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds, outpacing the pace of the elite men’s human world record.
Strategic Industry Push and Global Market Pressures
The Chinese government has positioned humanoid robotics as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and private enterprises betting that ongoing convergence in artificial intelligence and hardware will speed up practical use cases in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer markets. Investor enthusiasm was underscored when shares in Unitree, a prominent Chinese humanoid robot manufacturer, surged more than fivefold during its Shanghai trading debut, achieving a market valuation of approximately $50 billion, according to Reuters data.
Despite rapid technical advances in controlled environments, industry experts cited by CBS News note that the technology remains largely confined to demonstrations, performances, and specialized athletic events, requiring further development before achieving mass real-world deployment.
Last month, the United States Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns that targeted China. Additionally, the Pentagon added Unitree to its list of companies deemed to have ties with the Chinese military, a designation that Beijing has rejected.
The World Humanoid Robot Games feature 51 distinct events, including football, dancing, and industrial-task contests, and run through Wednesday at the Beijing venue.