Video Robot beats Usain Bolt record, then hits a wall 1:05

A humanoid robot has reportedly surpassed Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint record at the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games, held in Beijing. During preliminary heats on Saturday, August 22, 2026, two Chinese-developed robots, Tiangong Ultra and Honor Lightning, recorded times faster than Bolt's 9.58-second world record set in 2009. Tiangong Ultra achieved a time of 9.39 seconds, while Lightning clocked 9.47 seconds in the official race, with an unofficial test run for Lightning reportedly reaching 9.32 seconds.

The impressive athletic feats were followed by less graceful finishes, as both robots reportedly slammed into thick safety mats positioned beyond the finish line to aid in stopping. Videos from the event depicted the robots colliding with the padded barriers, with some reports indicating that robots fell to the ground after their impact and had to be carried off on stretchers. This highlights a current challenge in humanoid robot development, where advanced speed still outpaces controlled deceleration.

The World Humanoid Robot Games showcase China's advancements in robotics, featuring over 2,000 robots competing in various events, including sports and real-world simulations. This event underscores the rapid progress in humanoid robot capabilities, with the winning 100-meter robot improving its time by more than 12 seconds compared to the inaugural games in 2025.