Chinese humanoid robots break human track records at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing
The second World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing on August 22-23, 2026, featuring over 2,000 humanoid robots competing in 51 events including sprinting, high jump, table tennis, and industrial tasks. Chinese robots broke multiple human world records, including Usain Bolt's 100m sprint record, with the Tiangong Ultra robot achieving a time of 8.86 seconds on August 25. The event showcased China's advances in humanoid robotics amid an intensifying technology rivalry with the United States.
- Deutsche Wellefirst
- BBC+1.5 h
- CBS News+17.0 h
- Jerusalem Post+19.3 h
- South China Morning Post+22.2 h
- CNN+22.6 h
- Globe and Mail+26.7 h
- ABC News+26.9 h
- Semafor+34.0 h
- Reuters+65.0 h
- Al Jazeera+75.0 h
- Washington Times+79.9 h
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
“A Chinese humanoid robot sets a new 100-meter sprint record at Beijing Games”WT Washington Times RIGHT
“Chinese robot Tiangong clocks sub-9-second 100 metres in Beijing” · Globe and Mail, Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, South China Morning Post, AP News, BBC, Reuters