Robots Outrun Human Records in Beijing

New Delhi, August 24, 2026 China’s rapid advancement in humanoid robotics took the spotlight at the opening of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, where Chinese robots reportedly surpassed major human athletic records. With more than 2,000 humanoid robots taking part, the five-day event showcased the country’s growing strength in advanced robotics amid intensifying technological competition with the United States. The second edition of the games features 51 events and over 1,000 competitions, including running, table tennis, football, weightlifting and tug of war. The most striking performances came in athletics. A humanoid robot developed by Beijing-based X-Humanoid completed the 100-metre sprint in 9.39 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds set in 2009. Another robot from the same company reached 2.88 metres in the standing high jump, exceeding the human world record of 2.45 metres set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993. Before the opening ceremony, a humanoid robot from Chinese smartphone company Honor also recorded 9.32 seconds in a 100-metre trial, according to the company, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second. The games are being held at the National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, during the same week as Beijing’s 2026 World Robot Conference, where companies displayed around 3,000 products. China currently produces the majority of the world’s humanoid robots, while the United States has increased scrutiny of Chinese robotics firms. Last month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns, while the Pentagon recently added Unitree to a list of companies it said had ties with the Chinese military. Beijing has rejected those accusations. Despite the record-breaking displays, experts say humanoid robots are still largely used for demonstrations, performances and research, and widespread real-world deployment will take time. Spectators, however, were impressed by their rapid progress. Humanoid robots are “evolving rapidly,” said Li Yanfeng, while Yang Shangzheng added, “These sports are perfectly normal for humans, but now robots can do them. I find it amazing.” With 16 countries, including Germany, Japan and the United States, participating in this year’s games, the event reflects the remarkable pace of humanoid robotics and the growing global race to shape the future of the technology.