Chinese humanoid robots smash human records in 100m sprint and high jump at Beijing robot games

Chinese humanoid robots smashed human records in the 100-meter sprint and high jump at the opening of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday, according to reports. A robot from Beijing-based X-Humanoid achieved a time of 9.39 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, surpassing the human world record of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt in 2009. In the standing high jump, the same robot cleared 2.88 meters, far exceeding the previous record of 0.95 meters set by a humanoid robot in last year's inaugural games and surpassing the human world record of 2.45 meters established by Cuban athlete Javier Sotomayor in 1993. Over 2,000 humanoid robots participated in the five-day event, which took place at the National Speed Skating Oval, originally constructed for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The games, now in their second year, feature 51 events and more than 1,000 competitions, showcasing a range of activities including running, table tennis, soccer, weightlifting, and tug of war. This year’s games attracted participants from 16 countries, including Germany, Japan, and the United States, highlighting the growing international interest in advanced robotics. The event coincided with the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, where approximately 3,000 robotic products were displayed, many of them humanoid robots. China leads global production of humanoid robots, accounting for the majority of the world’s output. However, the U.S. has intensified scrutiny of Chinese-made robots, citing national security concerns. Last month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission imposed a ban on the import of new foreign-made humanoid robots, targeting China specifically. The Pentagon has also included Unitree, a prominent Chinese manufacturer, on a list of companies linked to the Chinese military. During the opening ceremony, hundreds of humanoid robots marched in synchronized formation, demonstrating their capabilities before the audience. Prior to the official start, a robot from the Chinese smartphone company Honor completed a 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds during a trial run, achieving a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second. These results underscore the rapid advancements in Chinese robotics technology. Experts suggest that while humanoid robots are making impressive strides, they remain largely confined to demonstration, performance, and research applications. Mass real-world deployment is still some years away. Despite this, spectators expressed enthusiasm over the robots' evolving abilities. Education worker Li Yanfeng noted her initial resistance to artificial intelligence due to fears of job displacement, but she now acknowledges the inevitability of technological progress. Spectator Yang Shangzheng remarked on the astonishing capability of robots performing tasks once exclusive to humans. Liu Tao, attending with his son, hoped to witness the latest achievements in Chinese robotics. The games continue through the weekend, offering further opportunities to observe the capabilities of these machines. As the competition progresses, the focus will likely shift to additional events, providing deeper insight into the current state of humanoid robotics. The event stands as a testament to China's ongoing efforts to lead in the global robotics industry amid rising geopolitical tensions.