Humanoid Robot 'Lightning' Runs Faster Than Usain Bolt's 100m World Record

BEIJING — A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning has run 100 metres faster than Usain Bolt's human world record, according to China's state broadcaster, as reported by The Guardian and Reuters on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

The Guardian said the Honor-developed robot clocked 9.32 seconds during a test event for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which opened the same day at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval. Reuters, also citing state media, put the preliminary-heat time at 9.39 seconds. Both figures beat Bolt's 9.58sec mark from the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. The precise time remains **Unverified** pending independent confirmation.

Organisers said the mark is not a ratifiable World Athletics record, as it was set by a machine. Lightning previously won April's Beijing half marathon in 50min 26sec, and its legs have since been lengthened by 10cm.

More than 2,000 humanoid robots from around the world are competing across 51 events over five days. In another standout mark, a Beijing X-Humanoid robot recorded a 2.88m standing high jump — above Javier Sotomayor's human record of 2.45m.

**Sources:** The Guardian, Reuters

**FAQ** - Did a robot really break Bolt's 100m record? State media says Lightning ran 9.32–9.39 seconds, but the time is unverified and not an official world record. - Where did it happen? At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, which began on 22 August 2026.

**Sources:** theguardian.com, Reuters