Humanoid Robots Break Usain Bolt’s 100m Record at Beijing World Robot Game

Humanoid robots have grabbed global attention at the World Robot Games in Beijing, with one machine reportedly surpassing Usain Bolt’s 100-metre record as China showcased rapid advances in robotics.

The competition brought dozens of humanoid robots and their human operators to Beijing’s Olympic speed skating arena, where the machines competed in athletics, football, boxing and martial arts.

The biggest headline came from Tiangong Ultra, a white humanoid robot that completed the 100 metres in 9.39 seconds during Saturday’s opening ceremony, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The reported time was faster than Bolt’s 9.58-second world record set in 2009.

The same robot model produced another striking result on Sunday, completing the 400 metres in about 38.15 seconds. The performance was reported as nearly five seconds faster than the previous record for the robot competition.

But the event also showed how far the technology still has to go. Several robotic runners failed to start, while others moved around the track at little more than walking pace. Some machines also lost their balance and collapsed shortly after beginning their races.

The football and boxing events produced similarly mixed results. Spectators cheered when small humanoids managed to kick the ball, while one robot boxer stumbled into the ropes and had to be removed by human handlers.

The unusual spectacle delighted many people in the stands, including children and their parents. For 72-year-old Beijing resident Hou Yali, however, the real test would be seeing robots compete directly against humans rather than simply breaking machine-based sporting records.

“We’ll be able to see more clearly whether machines can surpass humans,” Hou said, adding that the current competitions were mainly tests of speed rather than intelligence or practical usefulness.

China has made humanoid robotics a major technology priority, with companies and research institutions developing machines designed for industrial, commercial and household applications. The Beijing games offered both a showcase of that progress and a reminder of the technical challenges still facing the industry.