{
  "id": 2606613,
  "title": "Chinese humanoid robot reportedly beats Usain Bolt’s 100m record",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-humanoid-robot-reportedly-beats-usain-bolts-100m-record",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-22T15:57:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/22/chinese-humanoid-robot-reportedly-beats-usain-bolts-100m-record/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning has reportedly completed the 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds, surpassing the previous world record of 9.58 seconds set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. According to Al Jazeera English, the robot's performance was reported by CCTV, China's state broadcaster, during a preparatory test for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during the event, which occurred ahead of the humanoid robot games. This achievement outpaces Bolt's record, which was set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. China has been actively promoting humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with companies and policymakers exploring their applications in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors. Lightning has also showcased endurance, winning a 21-kilometer half-marathon in Beijing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a pace faster than the men's human world record. Standing at 1.69 meters tall, the robot initially had legs measuring 95 centimeters but had them lengthened to 1.05 meters before the humanoid robot games. However, it is important to note that this 9.32-second performance does not qualify as an official human athletics record, as the robot competed under conditions distinct from those governed by World Athletics rules. This development underscores the rapid progress being made in humanoid robotics in China.",
  "summary": "A Chinese humanoid robot has reportedly run the 100 metres in 9.32 seconds, beating Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second world record. Al Jazeera English, citing China’s state broadcaster CCTV, reports that the robot, named Lightning, achieved the feat during a preparatory test for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. “Lightning reached a […] Chinese humanoid robot…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record in test run",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-world-record-in-test-run",
        "published": "2026-08-22T11:32:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Chinese Humanoid Robot Lightning Runs 100m In 9.32 Seconds, Surpassing Usain Bolt’s 9.58-Second World Record | VIDEO",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-humanoid-robot-lightning-runs-100m-in-9-32-seconds-surpassing",
        "published": "2026-08-22T11:57:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-world-record",
        "published": "2026-08-22T12:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record in test run",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-world-record-in-test-run-2575621",
        "published": "2026-08-22T12:43:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "'Lightning' the Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/lightning-the-chinese-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-world-record",
        "published": "2026-08-22T13:38:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Watch: Moment robot attempts to beat Usain Bolt's 100m record",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/watch-moment-robot-attempts-to-beat-usain-bolts-100m-record",
        "published": "2026-08-22T14:10:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m record",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-record",
        "published": "2026-08-22T15:13:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record time",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/chinese-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-world-record-time",
        "published": "2026-08-22T16:07:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}