A headless Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra has beaten Usain Bolt's 100-metre world record, running the distance in 9.39 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.
The Jamaican sprinter's 2009 record of 9.58 seconds was smashed by the machine, which was the standout performer on the opening day of the five-day event. The games also featured robots boxing and playing football.
Controversy Over Faster Claim
As in human sport, there was controversy. A rival firm said its robot, Lightning, ran the 100m in 9.32 seconds during a trial before the games started.
More than 2,000 robots from 16 countries are competing across 51 events. Beijing-based firm X-Humanoid, whose bot took the 100m, also set a high jump record when one of its robots cleared 2.88 metres, surpassing the human best of 2.45 metres.
Spectator Reaction
Spectator Yang Shangzheng said of the robot athletes: "I find it amazing."
Bolt's Historic Record
Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist, set his 100m world record of 9.58 seconds at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on August 16, 2009. The time was 0.11 seconds faster than his previous world record of 9.69 seconds, set at the Beijing Olympics exactly one year earlier.
He was pushed hard by American Tyson Gay, who ran a national record of 9.71 seconds, while fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell finished third in 9.84. Bolt appeared to have the race under control, powering away from his rivals through the second half of the sprint.
