Robot Breaks Usain Bolt’s 100m Record on Video at Olympics-Like World Humanoid Robot Games in China
The Tiangong Ultra (also referred to as Tien Kung) humanoid robot successfully completed a 100-metre sprint in 9.39 seconds on August 22, 2026, officially outrunning Usain Bolt’s human world record of 9.58 seconds. The historic feat occurred during the opening events of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games held at the “Ice Ribbon” stadium in Beijing, China.
Key Highlights of the Historic Race
- The Record Pacemakers: Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (Tianzhuo team), Tiangong Ultra won the live preliminary group heat with a time of 9.39 seconds. Another competitor, Lightning (developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor), clocked an even faster 9.32 seconds during an earlier test trial for the games.
- Mechanical Limitations: While the acceleration and peak speed (reaching up to 14.5 metres per second) were revolutionary, stopping remains a significant challenge. Immediately after crossing the finish line, the winning robot lost balance and crashed straight into the safety padding.
- The Competition Scope: The World Humanoid Robot Games feature more than 2,000 robots from hundreds of global teams. They compete across 51 categories that range from athletic sprints and standing high jumps to household tasks like folding laundry.
