Chinese robot runs 100M sprint quicker than Usain Bolt's world record

A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, ran the 100m in 9.32 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds, according to China's state broadcaster. The robot reached a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second during a test event for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which begin on Saturday. Lightning also won the Beijing half marathon in April in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, and its legs have been lengthened by 10cm for the Games.

A robot named Lightning has run the 100m in 9.32 seconds, beating the human world record, China’s state broadcaster has reported. The humanoid, developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, reached a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second during a test event for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which begin on Saturday. The performance surpassed the 9.58sec men’s 100m world record set by Usain Bolt https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/aug/16/usain-bolt-world-record-100m-world-athletics-championships 17 years ago at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. China has been promoting humanoid robots as an emerging industry, with policymakers and companies betting that advances in AI and hardware will accelerate their deployment in manufacturing, logistics and consumer applications. Lightning also won the Beijing half marathon in April https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/19/humanoid-robots-race-beijing-half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the men’s world record. The robot stood 169cm tall and had 95cm-long legs at the half marathon. Researchers have since lengthened its legs by 10cm for these Games.