Robot Breaks Usain Bolt's 100m Record at Beijing Games

A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor, has broken Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record with a time of 9.32 seconds. The performance occurred during a preparatory test for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which officially opened in Beijing on August 22, 2026. The robot reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second, surpassing the 9.58-second record set by Bolt at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

The achievement highlights China's strategic push to advance humanoid robotics as a key industry. State media reported the record, noting that the robot's legs were lengthened from 95 centimeters to 1.05 meters to optimize its performance ahead of the games. Lightning also won the Beijing half marathon in April, completing the 21-kilometer course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a pace faster than the elite men's human world record.

The World Humanoid Robot Games, scheduled from August 22 through August 26 in Beijing, feature a range of competitions including factory, retail, household, and service tasks alongside racing events. The games have drawn significant attention, with over 300 exhibitors showcasing machines from various...