A Chinese humanoid robot has run 100 metres in 9.39 seconds, finishing faster than the 9.58 second world record set by Usain Bolt in 2009.
Tiangong Ultra recorded the time during a preliminary heat at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The machine, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, overtook Honor’s Lightning robot near the finish. Lightning completed the race in 9.47 seconds.
The result does not replace Bolt’s official athletics record, which applies to human competition under World Athletics rules. Instead, it offers a striking comparison between elite human speed and the improving performance of machines built to move like people.
The improvement has been rapid. Tiangong Ultra reportedly needed 21.50 seconds to win the same distance at the previous games. Its latest performance cuts that time by more than half, showing how quickly engineers are refining balance, leg design, control systems and power delivery.
The finishing area also showed the technology’s limits. Both leading robots relied on a thick safety mat to stop, and footage showed them losing control after crossing the line. Running quickly is only one part of useful movement. Robots must also stop safely, respond to changing conditions and operate reliably around people.
The competition features more than 2,000 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries and includes events ranging from football and dancing to industrial tasks. China is promoting humanoid robotics as a strategic industry, with potential uses in manufacturing, logistics and consumer services.
For now, the 9.39 second run is best understood as a robotics milestone rather than a new human sporting record. It demonstrates impressive speed, while also revealing the gap between a specialised race performance and the controlled, adaptable movement needed for everyday work.
Official Source: Chinese humanoid robot runs 100m in 9.39 seconds, breaks Bolt’s record – CGTN