The humanoid robot Lightning, developed by Honor, made headlines by completing a 100-meter sprint in just 9.32 seconds during a test event in Beijing, prior to the opening of the Humanoid Robot World Games. This impressive time beats the previous world record of 9.58 seconds set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.
According to reports from state television in China, Lightning achieved a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during the event, which served as a precursor to the second edition of the Humanoid Robot World Games, taking place in Beijing.
China’s investment in humanoid robots is seen as part of its strategic growth in the tech industry, with policymakers and companies banking on advancements in artificial intelligence and hardware to enhance their applications in production, logistics, and consumer services.
Earlier this year, Lightning also excelled in the Beijing half marathon, completing it in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a time exceptionally faster than the world record held by elite human athletes.
As reported, the robot stands 1.69 meters tall with 95-centimeter legs. Researchers have since extended its lower limbs by 10 centimeters to 1.05 meters just ahead of the Humanoid Robot World Games.
First Humanoid Robot Race Took Place in April 2025
Since last year, progress in humanoid robots has been remarkable. In April 2025, the Yizhuang half marathon in Beijing featured 21 humanoid robots alongside thousands of human runners. The winner, Tiangong Ultra, completed the race in two hours and 40 minutes.
At that event, robots from Chinese manufacturers such as DroidUP and Noetix Robotics presented in various shapes and sizes, with some measuring as short as 120 cm and others exceeding 1.8 m in height. One company even claimed that its robot looked nearly human, sporting feminine features and the ability to wink and smile.
Robots were accompanied by human trainers, some of whom had to physically assist them during the races. While some robots like Tiangong Ultra finished the race, others faced challenges right from the start. One robot fell at the starting line and lay there for several minutes before getting back up, while another collided with a barrier after running a few meters, causing its human operator to fall.
Recent improvements indicate a significant evolution: Lightning not only won the half marathon in the Chinese capital but did so nearly seven minutes faster than the world record held by Ugandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo in March 2026. Remarkably, the robots finishing in second and third places also broke the previous world record.
In total, 102 robots participated in the race, with 47 completing it, marking a notable improvement compared to 2025, when only six managed to finish.
