Chinese Humanoid Robots Set New Records at Beijing Games, Outpacing Humans
By Editor • August 23, 2026 • 1 min read
The World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off in Beijing on August 22, 2026, showcasing the impressive advancements in robotics, particularly from China. During the opening day, humanoid robots astonished spectators by surpassing human world records in both the 100-meter sprint and high jump, marking a significant milestone in the competition.
In a spectacular display at the National Speed Skating Oval, a Tiangong humanoid robot sprinted the 100 meters in an astonishing 9.39 seconds, eclipsing Usain Bolt's previous record of 9.58 seconds set in 2009. The excitement didn’t stop there; another humanoid achieved a standing high jump of 2.88 meters, outdoing the human record of 2.45 meters, held by Javier Sotomayor since 1993. This year’s games attracted over 2,000 robots competing in 51 events, illustrating China's commitment to leading in robotics.
The event coincided with the 2026 World Robot Conference, where around 3,000 robotic products were showcased. This surge in robotics comes amid heightened scrutiny from the U.S. regarding imports of Chinese-made humanoid robots, with recent bans citing national security concerns. Despite these tensions, the enthusiasm for humanoid robots was palpable among attendees, many of whom expressed their excitement at the robots’ rapid progress.
Li Yanfeng, an education worker, shared her evolving perception of AI, saying, “At first, I was resistant to it… but now that I see this development is unstoppable, I decided to come and take a look.” Spectators like Yang Shangzheng marveled at the robots' capabilities, stating, “These sports are perfectly normal for humans, but now robots can do them. I find it amazing.”
This year's games featured participants from 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan, and included various events like weightlifting and tug of war. As spectators eagerly anticipated further developments, the event underscored the rapid evolution of robotics in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Source: www.thehindu.com
