A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning runs the 100-metre sprint faster than the men’s world record held by Usain Bolt. Reported times vary by outlet, with some citing a preliminary heat result of 9.39 seconds and others citing Honor’s Lightning at 9.32 seconds, both reported during events connected to the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.
The performances are described as test runs rather than human athletics competitions, with coverage highlighting the peak speed Lightning reaches during a preparatory event. Several outlets also frame the result as part of a broader push by Chinese companies to improve humanoid robot mobility and speed ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which begin in Beijing on Saturday.
Other reporting emphasizes context from previous demonstrations. One outlet notes Lightning also completed the 21-kilometre Beijing half marathon in April, and adds that its legs were lengthened since then. While the common theme is robot sprint speed surpassing Bolt’s benchmark time, differences appear in the exact recorded time and which specific heat or trial is being referenced.
