Humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt’s record as China pushes ahead

Kurt Knutsson, known as 'The CyberGuy', appeared on 'Fox & Friends' about the World Humanoid Games in Beijing. Over 2,000 robots and 600 teams from 16 nations are competing in sprinting, boxing and soccer. Knutsson notes the U.S.–China tech race now reaches humanoid robots. Developers are testing new AI limits. The event shows how fast the field is growing.

If you still picture a robot with stiff knees and clumsy moves, you should change that picture. A Chinese humanoid robot has now run 100 meters faster than Usain Bolt’s 9.58‑second record. At the opening of the Beijing World Humanoid Robot Games, an X‑Humanoid robot finished the sprint in 9.39 seconds. The time was recorded on a standard track. Then the robot ran even faster later.

X‑Humanoid announced on Aug. 25 that its TianGong Ultra model posted a 9.32‑second run during the competition. The company says the robots broke the mark several times over about two hours of racing. Before anyone rewrites Olympic history, remember that Bolt still holds the official 100‑meter world record recognized by World Athletics. These robots race under their own rules in a separate event.

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The technology is moving very quickly. For me, the bigger story is that robots are changing from clumsy demos to strong, fast machines. The speed of this progress is remarkable.

Robots from Team Tiangong Ultra ran in the 4×100‑meter relay final on day 4 of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing on Aug. 25, 2026. (VCG via Getty Images)

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The second World Humanoid Robot Games opened Aug. 22 at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, called the Ice Ribbon, and ran through Aug. 26. Organizers listed 666 teams and 2,056 robots for this year’s event. The competition featured 51 different contests and 1,301 competition sessions.

The robots take part in track and field events and also face challenges that copy real‑world jobs. Organizers have added tests such as weightlifting and tug‑of‑war to check physical skill.

That mix shows what China hopes these machines will become. The Games give developers a place to push speed and strength, and they also reveal weaknesses that are hard to see in polished demo videos.

The first number that grabbed worldwide attention was 9.39 seconds. That was already faster than Bolt’s 9.58‑second human record from 2009. The comparison spread quickly because almost everyone knows what a 100‑meter sprint means. Then X‑Humanoid released newer results.

The company says TianGong Ultra finally reached 9.32 seconds, while other X‑Humanoid teams recorded 9.34, 9.38 and 9.39 seconds. Comparing these times to Bolt needs context. The robots do not start, run or stop under the same conditions as human Olympic athletes.

A Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot crossed the finish line in 8.86 seconds next to Honor humanoid robots during a 100‑meter large‑size group semifinal race at the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Aug. 25, 2026. (REUTERS)

However, that does not make the improvement meaningless. A humanoid staying upright at that speed needs careful coordination of its motors, balance system, sensors and software. All those parts must work together while the machine constantly adjusts its body. That is what catches my attention.

The rate of improvement becomes even clearer when you look back only one year. At the first World Humanoid Robot Games in 2025, the winning 100‑meter robot finished in 21.50 seconds.

Now robots from the same development group are running the distance in under 10 seconds. That is a huge leap in a short time. We have been following this acceleration at CyberGuy. Earlier this year we showed a Chinese humanoid called Bolt that reached 22 mph in testing. Running fast looks impressive on video, but the technology behind that speed could become useful far beyond a racetrack.

Running was only part of the show. An X‑Humanoid robot jumped 2.88 meters (about 9 ft 5 in) in a standing high jump. That height is higher than the recognized men’s high‑jump world record of 2.45 meters (about 8 ft) set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993. Again, we need context.

Sotomayor’s record came from a running high jump. The robot’s jump was a standing high jump. Those events use very different mechanics. So the robot did not erase Sotomayor’s record. What it did show was impressive explosive power and body control for a humanoid machine. Those abilities could later be useful for tasks far beyond clearing a bar.

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A fast humanoid robot does not need to be a track star to be valuable. Better mobility could help a robot move through a disaster zone where sending a person is dangerous. A machine that stays balanced while carrying gear could eventually handle physically demanding jobs. Then you start thinking about places where people would rather not go at all.

Maintenance team members check on Tiangong Ultra humanoid robots after they fall following the 100 m large‑size group final race at the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Aug. 26, 2026. (REUTERS)

That brings us to the part of this story that deserves much more attention. One developer at the Games believes humanoid robot soldiers could appear within the next decade.

Robotics engineer Yang Kun, who works for Shanghai‑based humanoid robotics company AG BOT, says Chinese companies could be only five to ten years away from robot soldiers. His company’s A3 humanoid competed in kick‑boxing at the Games. Yang described military and combat use as a possible future for humanoid robotics. That prediction needs context. It is only one developer’s view and does not represent an official Chinese government timetable. I would not treat five to ten years as gospel.

Technology forecasts can move quickly in either direction. A machine can perform well in a controlled lab and then struggle when the surroundings become unpredictable. What I watch is where developers think the technology is headed. When people building these machines start talking about military use, it shows the conversation has moved far beyond robots entertaining crowds at sport events.

Running fast in a straight line is one challenge. Navigating a damaged building while carrying equipment is a completely different problem. A robot may face unstable ground, blocked paths and people moving unpredictably. Then comes the harder issue of decision‑making. A sprint gives a robot a clear destination. Real life rarely does. Military settings make that problem even tougher because communication can disappear without warning. Sensors can misread a situation. Software may face circumstances developers never imagined.

That is why I keep some perspective when watching these record‑setting performances. The robots are getting impressive, but they still fall down. At the Games, some fast‑running robots had trouble stopping after the finish line and crashed into padded barriers. That visual reminder shows the gap between raw speed and reliable control.

The organizers seem very aware of that gap. This year Beijing upgraded the 100‑meter event so robots must compete fully autonomously. Scenario‑based events also push autonomous positioning, recognition and operation. The robots also face tasks inside mock factories, hotels and homes. Emergency‑response challenges put them into situations where they must interact with their surroundings for longer periods.

That part interests me even more than a sprint record. A robot that runs 100 meters in nine seconds makes a great headline. A robot that can work reliably for hours without constant human guidance could change whole industries. China appears focused on both. CyberGuy has also reported on efforts to scale humanoid manufacturing in China, with factories preparing to build thousands of machines. That brings us to the larger technology race.

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We hear constantly about competition between the United States and China over artificial intelligence. Humanoid robotics adds a physical layer to that race. The country that builds powerful AI gains one advantage. The country that can put that intelligence inside a reliable robot body and mass‑produce those machines could gain a much larger edge. Suddenly, software can move through the physical world, enter an industrial plant, cross dangerous terrain or work where sending people would be risky. U.S. regulators are already treating advanced foreign robotics as a national‑security concern.

On July 28, the Federal Communications Commission added foreign‑produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List. The category includes qualifying humanoid robots and other advanced mobile robotic systems. The change means covered new devices generally cannot receive the FCC equipment authorization needed for import or sale in the United States unless they get a conditional approval. That shows Washington sees connected robots as more than just another gadget.

For years, humanoid developers faced a frustrating mechanical challenge: how to make a two‑legged machine move efficiently without constantly falling. Engineers still have plenty of work ahead. Yet today’s machines move very differently from the awkward humanoids we saw only a few years ago. That changes what developers can focus on next.

As robot bodies become faster and stronger, artificial intelligence continues improving at the same time. A more capable body could perform difficult physical work. Better AI could help that machine understand what it sees and decide what to do next. Put those advances together and humanoids become much more interesting. We recently showed another humanoid demonstrating impressive running and movement skills. The biggest hurdle now may become less about making a robot move and more about ensuring it makes good decisions once it gets there.

You probably will not see a humanoid robot soldier walking down your street anytime soon. You may encounter the technology behind these machines much sooner. The balance system that keeps a robot upright during a sprint could help one move through rubble after an earthquake. More capable sensors could let robots work safely around human workers. Factories will likely remain one of the first major targets.

Most buildings and workplaces were designed around the human body. That makes humanoids appealing because companies could potentially use them without rebuilding every workspace for a special machine. As reliability improves and costs fall, those capabilities could spread to other areas. The military discussion raises much harder questions.

How much decision‑making authority should an autonomous machine have? Who is responsible if an AI‑controlled robot makes a dangerous mistake? Those conversations should happen before the machines become capable enough to force them. Because the technology is moving quickly.

The Bolt comparison grabs attention, but the bigger story for me is how quickly humanoid robots are becoming more capable. A 9.39‑second 100‑meter run shows how fast motors, balance systems and software are improving. The military angle deserves attention too. One Chinese robotics engineer predicts robot soldiers could appear within five to ten years. I would not treat that timeline as gospel, but it shows where some developers think the technology is headed. For America, this is another front in the technology race with China. A country that can combine advanced AI with reliable robot bodies and produce them in large numbers could gain a major advantage. We also need perspective. Running fast on a controlled track is far easier than navigating an unpredictable environment and making safe decisions. What I am watching now is how quickly these stronger robot bodies advance alongside increasingly capable AI.

If humanoid robots can outrun us, carry heavy gear and make more decisions on their own, where would you draw the line on how much power we should give them? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award‑winning tech journalist who loves technology, gear and gadgets that make life better. He contributes to Fox News & FOX Business, beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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