Honor's humanoid robot 'Lightning' beats Bolt's 100m record, Elon Musk shares video

Honor, the Chinese smartphone maker, has introduced its humanoid robot 'Lightning' during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games. The robot clocked an impressive 9.32 seconds for the 100-meter dash, surpassing Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds. Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared the race video on social media, drawing attention to the robot's spectacular run.

In his post, Musk noted the remarkable outcome: after crossing the finish line at full speed, Lightning collided with a safety wall, yet its waist did not break apart, nor did it emit sparks. This robustness is a key highlight, demonstrating the durability and engineering quality of the robot, which is an important factor for real-world applications.

Honor, traditionally known for its smartphones, is expanding its portfolio into advanced robotics. This showing at the games underscores the rapid progress in humanoid robotics, particularly in speed and crash resilience. While this is not an official athletic competition, the feat signals significant technological strides that could pave the way for future humanoid robots in various sectors, from industrial tasks to public assistance.