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Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Beijing games
Australia💻 TechnologyLean Progressive8/23/2026

Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Beijing games

At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra completed the 100-metre race in 9.39 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's human world record of 9.58 seconds. Another robot, Lightning, also performed impressively, finishing in 9.47 seconds. Both robots faced technical challenges during the race, such as stumbling and requiring assistance. This performance marks significant progress compared to last year's inaugural games, where Tiangong Ultra completed the same distance in 21.50 seconds. Lightning previously achieved a 100-metre time of 9.32 seconds in a preparatory test. The event includes various competitions beyond the 100-metre race, highlighting advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. China is promoting humanoid robots as a strategic industry, with growing investor interest reflected in the stock performance of major manufacturers like Unitree.

A Chinese humanoid robot shattered the men's 100-metre world record previously held by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, completed the distance in 9.39 seconds, surpassing Bolt's 9.58-second time set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. In the same heat, another robot named Lightning, created by smartphone manufacturer Honor, clocked 9.47 seconds, also breaking Bolt's record. Both machines were part of the second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games, which began on Saturday and runs through August 26. Tiangong Ultra initially trailed Lightning before overtaking it near the finish line. The race took place on a track equipped with a thick mat designed to halt the robots safely. During the event, Tiangong Ultra veered off course, causing spectators to move aside. Lightning collapsed to the ground shortly after crossing the finish line and was removed on a stretcher. The performance represented a dramatic leap forward compared to last year's inaugural games, where Tiangong Ultra completed the 100 metres in 21.50 seconds. Tiangong also secured victory in the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon, held in Beijing the previous year. Earlier on Saturday, Chinese state media reported that Lightning had achieved a 9.32-second time in a preparatory test, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second. Lightning had previously won this year's humanoid half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, outpacing the pace of the elite men's human world record. Standing 169 centimetres tall with 95-centimetre legs during the half-marathon, its developers extended its leg length by 10 centimetres to 1.05 metres ahead of the games, as noted by broadcaster CCTV. The 100-metre race is one of 51 events at the games, which feature diverse activities such as football, dancing, and industrial task contests. This year's competition attracted 2056 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries and six continents, marking a significant increase from the 280 teams participating in the inaugural event. China has positioned humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with both policymakers and private enterprises investing heavily in advancing artificial intelligence and hardware technologies. These developments aim to enhance the application of robots in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and consumer goods. Investor confidence in the sector was evident earlier this week when shares in Unitree, one of China's leading humanoid robot manufacturers, surged more than fivefold upon its Shanghai stock exchange debut, valuing the company at approximately US$50 billion. The World Humanoid Robot Games serve as a platform for showcasing technological advancements and fostering international collaboration in the field of robotics. As the competition progresses, attention will remain focused on how these achievements translate into practical applications outside of the competitive arena. The event highlights the rapid evolution of robotics technology and underscores China's growing influence in shaping the future of automation.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

The Age logoThe AgeIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 808/23/2026
Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Beijing games

At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, surpassing the men’s world record previously held by Usain Bolt. The robot competed against another machine, Lightning, which finished in 9.47 seconds. Both robots lacked the agility of human athletes, crashing into safety mats designed to stop them. While they improved significantly from last year’s games, where Tiangong Ultra clocked 21.50 seconds for the same distance, the event highlighted advancements in China’s robotics industry. The games featured 51 events, including football and industrial tasks, with over 2000 robots participating from 16 countries.

Bias read (Progressive): The article emphasizes China's technological progress and strategic focus on humanoid robots, aligning with narratives promoting national innovation and economic growth. It highlights achievements in AI and robotics, positioning China as a global leader in these fields, which reflects a left-leaning

Why factuality (85): The article provides specific details such as the time of 9.39 seconds for Tiangong Ultra, the name of the developer (Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre), and mentions of the previous year's performance (21.50 seconds). These details are consistent across both articles and appear plausible wit

Why objectivity (80): The article maintains a relatively neutral tone but includes descriptive phrases like 'lacked Bolt’s flair' and 'stumbled wildly into the sidelines,' which add a slightly subjective interpretation of the robots' behavior. The overall reporting remains factual and avoids overt bias, though there is a

The Sydney Morning Herald logoThe Sydney Morning HeraldIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 808/23/2026
Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Beijing games

At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra completed the 100-metre race in 9.39 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's human world record of 9.58 seconds. Another robot, Lightning, also performed impressively, finishing in 9.47 seconds. Both robots faced technical challenges during the race, such as stumbling and requiring assistance. This performance marks significant progress compared to last year's inaugural games, where Tiangong Ultra completed the same distance in 21.50 seconds. Lightning previously achieved a 100-metre time of 9.32 seconds in a preparatory test. The event includes various competitions beyond the 100-metre race, highlighting advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. China is promoting humanoid robots as a strategic industry, with growing investor interest reflected in the stock performance of major manufacturers like Unitree.

Bias read (Center): The article discusses technological achievements in robotics without taking a stance on political issues. It focuses on the performance of robots in a competition and mentions economic aspects like investor interest but does not involve political controversy or bias.

Why factuality (85): This article mirrors the content of Article 0 closely, including identical times, names, and descriptions of events. It presents the same factual claims regarding the robots' performances and improvements from prior years. No new information contradicts the first article, suggesting a shared source

Why objectivity (80): Like Article 0, this piece uses descriptive language that adds color to the narrative, such as 'stumbled wildly into the sidelines' and 'carried away on a stretcher.' While these do not strongly favor one perspective, they introduce a degree of subjectivity in portraying the robots' actions. Overall

ABC News (Australia) logoABC News (Australia)State / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 658/22/2026
Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record

A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning set a new world record for the 100-meter dash, completing the distance in 9.39 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This performance surpassed the previous record held by Usain Bolt, who ran the same distance in 9.58 seconds. The robot, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, improved significantly from its debut in the inaugural games, where it clocked 21.50 seconds. Lightning also competed in a half-marathon, finishing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the human world record. The event highlights China's growing focus on advancing robotics technology, supported by both government initiatives and private-sector innovation.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual developments in robotics technology without overtly endorsing or criticizing any political stance. While it mentions China's strategic emphasis on robotics under President Xi Jinping, it does not frame the narrative in a distinctly left or right-leaning manner. The focus

Why factuality (85): The article reports on a Chinese humanoid robot setting a new time in a competition, citing specific details like the name of the robot, the event, and comparative times. While there is no primary source document, the information aligns with general knowledge about robotics competitions and appears

Why objectivity (65): The tone of the article leans towards celebrating the achievement of the Chinese robot, using phrases like 'sharp improvement' and 'collecting almost all the medals.' This suggests a positive bias toward Chinese technological advancement, which affects the objectivity score.

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