Chinese Robot Sets New 100m Sprint Record — image accompanying The Guardian Athletics's report. Photograph: VCG/Getty Images; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning clocked 9.32 seconds in the 100m sprint, surpassing Usain Bolt's 9.58-second record. The robot achieved this during a test event for the World Humanoid Robot Games.
Lightning reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second, according to China's state broadcaster. The robot also won the Beijing half marathon in April, finishing faster than elite men's pace. Read more racing coverage.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Chinese Robot Sets New 100m Sprint Record?
Honor's humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt's 17-year-old world record. A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning clocked 9.32 seconds in the 100m sprint, surpassing Usain Bolt's 9.58-second record. The robot achieved this during a test event for the World Humanoid Robot Games.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 22, 2026. The underlying The Guardian Athletics report was dated August 22, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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