Chinese humanoid robots smash human records in 100m sprint and high jump at Beijing robot games
Chinese humanoid robots set new world records in sprinting and high jumping at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This event highlights China's rapid advancements in robotics amid increasing technological competition with the United States.
Why it matters
The rapid development of humanoid robotics in China, coupled with US trade restrictions, underscores the escalating global tech race.
Chinese humanoid robots broke records set by humans, including beating Usain Bolt’s 100-meter sprint world record, on the opening day of the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22, 2026).
More than 2,000 humanoid robots were participating in the event, the organiser said.
The five-day games, now in its second year, are a spectacle demonstrating China’s rapid progress in advanced robotics as the technology race with the U.S. heats up, with 51 events and more than 1,000 competitions taking place including running, table tennis and soccer.
The games, which are taking place in the National Speed Skating Oval built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, opened the same week as Beijing held the 2026 World Robot Conference, where companies showcased around 3,000 products, including humanoid robots.
China makes the majority of the world’s humanoid robots. The U.S. has stepped up scrutiny of robots from the country.
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