Humanoid robots shattered human athletic records over the weekend at the World Robot Games in Beijing, clocking a 9.39-second 100-meter sprint and dominating track events at the city’s Olympic ice arena, according to public broadcaster CCTV and regional reports.
Tiangong Ultra Smashes Bolt’s Century Mark
During Saturday’s opening ceremony, a headless red humanoid named Tiangong Ultra—developed by a Beijing research center and from smartphone brand Honor—completed the 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds. That time eclipses the human world record of 9.58 seconds set by Jamaican track legend Usain Bolt in 2009.
Dominating the Oval at the Olympic Ice Arena
The machine followed up that performance on Sunday by shattering the 400-meter world record by nearly five seconds, crossing the finish line in 38.15 seconds.
More than 2,000 humanoid robots are competing across 51 events through August 26, 2026, drawing crowds to watch machines test their speed, balance, and coordination. The tournament has turned the spotlight on advanced robotics engineering, with state media and developers highlighting the hardware capabilities on display.
Erratic Strides and Starting-Line Collapses
Not all competitors matched the speed of the front-running models. During a 400-meter series, a white-shelled robot swung its arms erratically while leaning dangerously forward, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic fall to maintain its forward momentum. Other entries failed to clear the starting line entirely, moving at a slow walk or collapsing the moment the starting signal sounded.
Clumsy Goals and Ring-Side Rescues
In team sports and combat events, the limitations of current mechanical design drew laughter from spectators in the stands. Automated soccer players scored clumsy goals, while a humanoid boxing robot stumbled and collapsed against the ropes, remaining motionless until human technicians rushed onto the platform to recover it.
Pushing Durability Limits Through August 26
Competition across the 51 scheduled disciplines continues through August 26, 2026, with engineering teams testing their creations in combat sports, martial arts, and team disciplines.
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