Chinese humanoid robots broke records set by humans, including beating Usain Bolt’s 100-meter sprint world record, on the opening day of the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. More than 2,000 humanoid robots were participating in the event, according to organizers. The games took place at the National Speed Skating Oval, which was built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Hundreds of robots marched in formation during the opening ceremony, showing synchronized movement and coordination.
One robot from Beijing-based X-Humanoid ran the 100 meters in 58 seconds, matching Bolt’s time from 2009, according to the Boston Herald. Another robot from the same company beat the standing high jump record previously set by Jamaican athlete Bolt, according to a report from CBS News.
The robots were tested in a controlled setting and not under standard human athletic rules, leadership.ng reported. These performances show how quickly humanoid robotics is advancing, especially in China. The event also featured other competitions like table tennis, soccer, and weightlifting.
Some spectators said they were amazed by how fast robots could now perform tasks that humans do. One visitor noted that she had once been skeptical about artificial intelligence but now finds it impressive. Another observer said that seeing robots do normal human sports was amazing to watch.
China is the world’s leading manufacturer of humanoid robots, with many companies producing thousands of units. The United States has recently taken steps to limit imports of foreign-made humanoid robots. The Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns. The Pentagon also added Unitree, a major Chinese robot maker, to its list of companies that it deemed have ties with the Chinese military.
China has denied these accusations and continues to promote its robotics technology globally. One robot named Lightning, made by Chinese smartphone company Honor, previously beat human half-marathon times in a separate event. Lightning was designed with longer legs to improve running speed before the games.
Footage from the 100-meter race showed robots slamming into a cushion and falling to the ground in order to stop after crossing the finish line. Experts say that while these machines are impressive, they are still mostly used for demonstrations and research. They believe it will take time before humanoid robots become widely used in real-world applications.
The second World Humanoid Robot Games began in Beijing on August 22, 2026.