A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor ran the 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, outpacing Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second human world record set in 2009, according to BBC and Rediff reports. The robot, dubbed Lightning, achieved a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during a test event, surpassing human athletic limits.

Robots outperform humans in multiple events

Lightning also completed a 21-kilometer Beijing half marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the elite human world-record pace, and Researchers later lengthened its legs by 10 cm to 1.05 meters in preparation for the games, as reported by China Central Television. Other robots, including one developed by the Beijing Innovation Centre of Humanoid Robotics, ran the 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds, narrowly missing Lightning’s performance.

World Humanoid Games showcase diverse challenges

The second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games began in Beijing on Saturday and will last five days — In addition to sprinting, robots competed in boxing, football, high jump, and table tennis. A robot was captured performing Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration on the football pitch, and droids participated in synchronized marching at the opening ceremony, according to BBC reports.

China’s push for robotic advancement

China has been promoting humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and companies investing in artificial intelligence and hardware to accelerate deployment in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer applications. The World Humanoid Robot Games highlight the country’s ambition to lead in robotics technology; Events also include household tasks such as folding laundry, demonstrating the robots’ versatility beyond sports.