The human record – of 57 minutes and 20 seconds – is held by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo, according to World Athletics.
Swinging its short forearms for balance, the bright-red humanoid, standing 169cm tall, showed no sign of having to slow down as it dashed past the finish line.
Humanoid robot Lightning runs after crossing the finish line. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
The remarkable feat represents a big stride for China in its technological rivalry with the US, which has thus far boasted more sophisticated humanoid models.
China’s robot industry has accelerated since 2015, when the government listed robotics as one of 10 key sectors in a blueprint for upgrading Chinese industries and shedding its reputation as the world’s cheap-labor factory.
In a 2023 policy document, officials identified humanoid robotics as a “new frontier in technological competition,” setting a 2025 target for mass production and secure supply chains for core components. That focus was carried over into China’s economic plan for the next five years.
Such ambitions have led to a boom in robot sporting events across China over the past year.
