On the first day of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a record-breaking performance occurred. The 100-meter dash record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009 was surpassed. A Beijing-based X-Humanoid robot, named Lightning Bolt, completed the run in 9.39 seconds, slightly faster than Bolt’s 9.58 seconds. The robot collided with a blue wall afterward.
Prior to the event, a robot from Chinese smartphone company Honor set an even faster record. It achieved a 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds during a trial. The company’s spokesperson noted the robot reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second.
Unlike Bolt, who celebrated his achievement in 2009 with a jog around the track, these robots were placed on stretchers after their collision with the wall. The event demonstrates the rapid advancement of robotics technology.
The World Humanoid Robot Games feature over 2,000 robots competing in 51 events including running, table tennis, and soccer. This five-day event underscores China’s significant progress in robotics amidst global tech competition.
The games occur at the National Speed Skating Oval, initially built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. They coincide with the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, where 3,000 products, including humanoid robots, were displayed.
In another highlight, a humanoid robot achieved a standing high jump of 2.88 meters. This surpasses the 2.45 meters record set by human athlete Javier Sotomayor. The progress of humanoid robots in athletic tasks fascinates attendees, including Li Yanfeng, an education worker from Beijing, who finds their rapid evolution worth observing.
Yang Shangzheng, another spectator, expressed amazement at robots performing sports typical for humans. Liu Tao, attending with his son, aimed to witness the best robots China offers. This year’s event includes participants from 16 countries, such as Germany, Japan, and the U.S., engaged in activities like weightlifting and tug of war.
The U.S. intensified scrutiny over robots manufactured in China, which dominate the global market. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President Donald Trump restricted imports of foreign-made humanoid robots due to security concerns. FCC Chair Brendan Carr affirmed commitment to safeguarding America’s supply chains.