Usain Bolt's world record for the 100-meter dash was surpassed not by a human, but by a Chinese humanoid robot. Previously, in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, Usain Bolt set the world record by running 100 meters in 9.69 seconds. The following year, in Berlin, he improved this figure to 9.58 seconds, which remains unbeatable by humans at present.
At the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing, the robot Tiangong Ultra demonstrated astonishing speed, finishing the 100 meters in just 9.39 seconds. This time was faster than Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds. In the same race, Honor Lightning finished second, covering the distance in 9.47 seconds. Thus, in one race, two humanoids achieved results surpassing Bolt's record.
Despite the impressive speed, the finish of these robots was not as stylish as Bolt's. After completing the run, Tiangong Ultra lost its balance and stumbled heavily, falling toward the side line where it crashed into a thick mat installed to slow its movement. The situation was so tense that onlookers had to move away. Similarly, Honor Lightning fell to the ground after the race, requiring evacuation on a stretcher.
This highlights that although robots have managed to beat the clock, they are still significantly behind human athletes in terms of balance and spectacular finishing.
The progress in the development of these robots is evident: at the first World Humanoid Robot Games last year, Tiangong Ultra won the 100-meter race, running it in 21.50 seconds. This year, it achieved a time of 9.39 seconds, representing an improvement of more than 12 seconds in just one year. This significant leap demonstrates the rapid development of humanoid robot technology.
Furthermore, Tiangong Ultra previously won the first marathon for humanoid robots in Beijing. As for Honor Lightning, before the 100-meter final, it had already shown its speed, registering 9.32 seconds in a training test. According to Chinese state media, during this test, its maximum speed reached 14.5 meters per second.
Changes were made to Lightning's structure to increase its speed. During the half-marathon, its height was 169 centimeters, and its leg length was about 95 centimeters. Before the games, researchers increased its leg length by approximately 10 centimeters, bringing it to 1.05 meters. The goal of this change was to increase stride length and achieve better dynamics.
The competitions in Beijing include not only the 100-meter sprint; the total number of disciplines is 51, including competitions in football, dancing, and performing industrial tasks. However, the 100-meter race attracted the most attention, as the robots surpassed Usain Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Usain Bolt's official men's world record for the 100 meters remains 9.58 seconds, and the robot's time of 9.39 seconds does not change the human sporting record.