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● TRACKER Updated 3d ago · 33 sources tracked

Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record at Beijing games

A Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot clocked 8.64 seconds in a 100-meter sprint during the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This performance beats the 9.58 second human world record set by Usain Bolt in 2009. While the robot achieved a new speed record, it crashed into a safety barrier immediately after completing the race. The five-day competition involved more than 2,000 robots, highlighting both the speed capabilities and the stability failures of current Chinese humanoid engineering.

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What changed

AOL corroborated the 8.64 second sprint time and the comparison to Usain Bolt's record.

Live updates

  1. Tiangong Ultra robot surpasses Usain Bolt world record in Beijing

    A Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot clocked 8.64 seconds in a 100-meter sprint during the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This performance beats the 9.58 second human world record set by Usain Bolt in 2009. While the robot achieved a new speed record, it crashed into a safety barrier immediately after completing the race. The five-day competition involved more than 2,000 robots, highlighting both the speed capabilities and the stability failures of current Chinese humanoid engineering.

    Why it matters

    The event serves as a benchmark for the rapid development of humanoid robotics in China. The contrast between the record-breaking speed and the post-race crash illustrates the gap between raw power and balance control.

    What is confirmed

    • A robot recorded a 100-meter sprint time of 8.64 seconds at the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games.
    • Usain Bolt set the human world record of 9.58 seconds in 2009.

    Still unconfirmed

    • The robot that broke the record was a Tiangong Ultra model.
    • The robot crashed into a safety barrier after finishing the race.
    • The event featured over 2,000 robots.

    What to watch next

    • Technical analysis of the robot's stability failure
    • Official certification of the 8.64 second time by sporting bodies
    Sources used for this update (4)
    1. www.aol.com — The biggest fails from the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games
    2. www.bbc.com — Watch: Moment 64-year-old Nepali woman is found alive in mud-buried home
    3. the-european.eu — Europe leads world in quantum research despite deep industry scepticism
    4. www.ariananews.af — AI could pose ‘existential’ risk to humanity, UN rights chief warns
    confidence 80%

  2. Tiangong Ultra Robot Breaks 100m World Record in Beijing

    A Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot clocked 8.64 seconds in a 100-meter sprint on August 26 during the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This time surpasses Usain Bolt's 2009 human world record of 9.58 seconds. Despite the athletic feat, the robot crashed into a safety barrier after finishing the race. The five-day event featured over 2,000 robots and showcased both the advancements and current limitations of Chinese humanoid technology.

    Why it matters

    The event serves as a benchmark for the global humanoid robot race between China and US rivals. Experts question how these controlled athletic achievements will translate into practical real-world applications.

    What is confirmed

    • A Tiangong Ultra robot ran 100 meters in 8.64 seconds on August 26.
    • The robot's time beat Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds.
    • The robot crashed into a safety barrier after crossing the finish line.
    • The World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing lasted five days and included over 2,000 robots.

    What to watch next

    • Analysis of how athletic robot performance translates to real-world utility
    • Updates on US humanoid robot responses to the Beijing games
    Sources used for this update (4)
    1. www.theguardian.com — Faster, higher, funnier: what we learned from China’s robot games
    2. www.mensxp.com — Rise of the Machines? Chinese Robot Breaks Usain Bolt's 100-Metre World Record
    3. asiatimes.com — China’s robot beat Bolt – then it hit the wall
    4. www.thestar.com.my — A Chinese robot beat Usain Bolt’s 100m record. Should we be impressed?
    confidence 90%

  3. Chinese humanoid robot sets 8.86 second 100m sprint record in Beijing

    A Chinese humanoid robot clocked 8.86 seconds in the 100-meter sprint during the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This time surpasses the previous robot record of 9.39 seconds set on Saturday and beats Usain Bolt's 2009 human world record of 9.58 seconds. The robot, identified as Tiangong Ultra, crashed into a safety barrier after crossing the finish line. The five-day Olympic-style event featured over 2,000 robots competing in various disciplines.

    Why it matters

    The event showcases the growth of Beijing's robotics sector and state-backed engineering. The rapid improvement in speed is evident as the Tiangong Ultra required 21.5 seconds for the same distance last year.

    What is confirmed

    • A Chinese humanoid robot ran 100 meters in 8.86 seconds on Tuesday.
    • The previous robot record of 9.39 seconds was set the preceding Saturday.
    • Usain Bolt holds the human 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds set in 2009.
    • The World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing is an Olympic-style competition in its second year.
    • More than 2,000 robots competed in the five-day event.
    • The robot Tiangong Ultra crashed after crossing the finish line.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Tiangong Ultra needed 21.5 seconds to run 100 meters last year.
    • The robot that ran 8.86 seconds is named Tiangong Ultra.

    What to watch next

    • Technical analysis of the robot's failure at the finish line
    • Official verification of the 8.86 second time by independent sporting bodies
    Sources used for this update (8)
    1. inews.co.uk — The taxes Burnham could raise in his first Budget – and the risks
    2. apnews.com — A Chinese humanoid robot sets a new 100-meter sprint record at Beijing Games
    3. apnews.com — A Chinese humanoid robot sets 100-meter sprint record of 8.86 seconds
    4. www.martincid.com — China’s Tiangong Ultra ran 100m in 9.39s — last year it needed 21.5 seconds
    5. finance.yahoo.com — Chinese Humanoid Robot Beats Usain Bolt’s 100-Meter Record, Then Crashes Into Safety Barrier
    6. in.mashable.com — Chinese Robot Runs 100m In 8.86 Seconds, Beats Usain Bolt’s 9.58-Second World Record
    7. apnews.com — A robot sprinter shatters a 100-meter record again as sparks fly at China’s robot competition
    8. www.zmescience.com — Chinese Humanoid Robots Just Ran Faster Than Usain Bolt’s 100 Meter Record. Then They Crashed into a Wall
    confidence 95%

  4. Humanoid Robot Breaks Usain Bolt's 100m World Record in Beijing

    A humanoid robot clocked 9.39 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, surpassing Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds. The event features over 2,000 robots from 16 countries across 51 competitions. While the 9.39-second time is widely reported, some sources indicate two different robots beat the record. One robot, named Lightning, previously won the 21-kilometer Beijing half marathon in April. These achievements highlight rapid progress in robotics engineering with implications for industrial automation and athletics.

    Why it matters

    The World Humanoid Robot Games is a five-day event testing machine capabilities in sports like soccer and weightlifting. The speed of these robots exceeds human limits but raises questions about their durability outside controlled environments.

    What is confirmed

    • A humanoid robot ran the 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds.
    • The World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing includes more than 2,000 humanoid robots.
    • The 9.39-second run beat Usain Bolt's world record.

    Still unconfirmed

    • A robot named Lightning finished first in the 21-kilometer Beijing half marathon in April.
    • Two different robots beat the 100-meter dash record.
    • A robot from Honor reached 9.32 seconds during a test run.
    • The record-breaking robot is named Tiangong Ultra.

    What to watch next

    • Verification of whether one or two robots broke the record
    • Technical specifications of the Lightning and Tiangong Ultra models
    • Official certification of the 9.39-second time by athletic governing bodies
    Sources used for this update (5)
    1. gizmodo.com — The Robots Beat Usain Bolt, Then Met Their Match: Beans
    2. www.foxnews.com — Humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m dash record at Beijing games
    3. www.wcvb.com — Watch: Humanoid robot breaks Usain Bolt’s 100m dash record at 9.39 seconds
    4. www.scientificamerican.com — The humanoid robot ‘Olympics’ is as ridiculous as it is impressive
    5. www.independent.co.uk — ‘Lightning’ the robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record in Beijing
    confidence 80%

  5. Tiangong Ultra Robot Sprints to 9.39 Seconds at Beijing Games

    A Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra beat Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds by running the distance in 9.39 seconds. The achievement occurred during the second year of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The five-day event featured over 2,000 robots from 16 countries competing in 51 events, including soccer, table tennis, and weightlifting. While most reports confirm the 9.39-second time, one report claims a robot from Honor reached 9.32 seconds during a test run.

    Why it matters

    The games serve as a demonstration of China's robotics progress amid a technology race with the United States. The event includes over 1,000 competitions to showcase advanced humanoid capabilities.

    What is confirmed

    • Tiangong Ultra ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds.
    • Usain Bolt's world record for the 100-meter sprint is 9.58 seconds.
    • The World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing featured more than 2,000 robots from 16 countries.
    • The event is in its second year and consists of 51 events and over 1,000 competitions.

    Still unconfirmed

    • A humanoid robot developed by Honor ran 100m in 9.32 seconds.
    • Chinese robots beat the human high-jump record.

    What to watch next

    • Verification of the 9.32-second claim by Honor
    Sources used for this update (7)
    1. sports.yahoo.com — Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record, sprinting in 9.39 seconds at World Humanoid Robot Games
    2. apnews.com — Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m record at World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing
    3. www.arise.tv — Chinese Humanoid Robot Beats Usain Bolt’s 100m World Record In Beijing
    4. americanbazaaronline.com — Chinese humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m record
    5. www.thestar.com.my — Robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record in test run
    6. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Chinese humanoid robots just beat Usain Bolt’s 100m record and the human high-jump record, are humans already losing to machines?
    7. www.smh.com.au — Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Beijing games
    confidence 90%

  6. Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record

    A Chinese humanoid robot named 'Lightning' has beaten Usain Bolt's 100m world record at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, running the distance in 9.39 seconds. Multiple sources confirm the achievement, with some specifying the event as the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games. The robot's performance has garnered significant attention globally.

    Why it matters

    The World Humanoid Robot Games is an event that showcases advancements in robotics, particularly in humanoid robots. The competition includes various challenges that test the capabilities of these robots, such as speed, agility, and endurance. Usain Bolt's 100m world record has stood for years, and a robot beating this record indicates significant progress in robotics and artificial intelligence.

    What is confirmed

    • A Chinese humanoid robot ran 100m in 9.39 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's world record.
    • The robot achieved this feat at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.
    • The robot's name is 'Lightning'.

    Still unconfirmed

    • The robot's performance was unexpected by many experts.

    What to watch next

    • Further details on the robot's technology and capabilities
    • Reactions from robotics experts and athletes
    • Future competitions or events featuring humanoid robots
    Sources used for this update (10)
    1. Financial Times — Who is really buying China’s humanoid robots?
    2. Reuters — Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record in test run
    3. The Guardian — Chinese robot runs 100m sprint quicker than Usain Bolt’s world record
    4. NBC News — Chinese humanoid robot ‘Lightning’ beats human 100m world record in test run
    5. Al Jazeera — Usain Bolt’s 100m record broken at World Humanoid Robot Games
    6. eu.usatoday.com — Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record at Beijing games
    7. consent.yahoo.com — Chinese humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt's sprint world record
    8. www.bbc.com — Watch: Moment humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m record
    9. www.cbsnews.com — Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint world record in humanoid bot games
    10. www.nbcnews.com — Move over, Usain Bolt: Humanoid robots smash human records at Beijing games
    confidence 85%