Robot Lightning beats Usain Bolt's 100m record at Beijing games — image accompanying Athletics Weekly's report. Image accompanying Athletics Weekly’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Honor, beat Usain Bolt's 100m record at the Beijing games. Lightning clocked 9.47 seconds, surpassing Bolt's 9.58 seconds.
Lightning's time was faster than Bolt's, but not the fastest of the day. Tiangong Ultra won the heat in 9.39 seconds. Lightning reportedly clocked 9.32 seconds in a test run. Read more culture coverage.
The robot's legs were lengthened for the games, contributing to the improved time. The event is part of the World Humanoid Robot Games, showcasing China's investment in humanoid robotics. Related: Humanoid Robots to Compete in 2026 Malaysia Marathon.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Robot Lightning beats Usain Bolt's 100m record at Beijing games?
Honor's humanoid robot clocked 9.47 seconds, surpassing Bolt's 9.58 seconds. A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Honor, beat Usain Bolt's 100m record at the Beijing games. Lightning clocked 9.47 seconds, surpassing Bolt's 9.58 seconds.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 23, 2026. The underlying Athletics Weekly report was dated August 23, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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