The Future Of Sports? Humanoid Robots Are Already Competing Like Athletes
At the ongoing World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, more than 2,000 humanoid robots are taking part in an Olympic-style showcase featuring sprinting, football, table tennis, martial arts and other events. The competition has already produced some eye-catching records, with a humanoid robot clocking 9.39 seconds in the 100 metres, faster than Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second human world record, while another robot achieved a 2.88m standing high jump. The five-day event features 51 disciplines and more than 1,000 competitions, with participants from 16 countries. Beyond the spectacle, the Games highlight China’s rapid progress in robotics, while also testing how effectively humanoid machines can perform complex physical and real-world tasks.
Spectators cheer a robot competing in the 1500m during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Technicians carry a robot after competing at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
A humanoid robot is carried off the field after competing in the 1500m run race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Robots are prepared ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Robots walk during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Robots are prepared ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Spectator looking robots perform during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Robots compete in the 100m race during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Robots are prepared ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Humanoid robots are playing soccer ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Dancers and robots performs during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
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