Chinese humanoid robot completes 100 meters faster than Usain Bolt

A Chinese humanoid robot ran 100 metres faster than any human has ever done, at an event in Beijing on 22 August 2026. The robot, called Lightning, finished in 9.32 seconds. The human world record is 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009. Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 metres per second during the run. The event was a test competition ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games. A year before, robots like Lightning could not even finish a race. China has made humanoid robotics a national priority, and companies have invested heavily in the technology. The government wants to use these robots in factories and warehouses.