Humanoid robots break human's half marathon record

Humanoid robots in China have, for the first time, surpassed human potential in a long-distance running race, breaking the half marathon world record.

The race, held for the second time in the capital Beijing, brought together humans and humanoid robots competing side by side on the same course, showcasing a unique fusion of sports and technology, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

In the event titled “Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon”, humanoid robots completed the 21.1-kilometer course faster than the best times ever achieved by humans over the same distance.

A humanoid robot developed by Honor finished first with a time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Two other robots of the same model, operated by different teams, followed with times of 50:56 and 53:01.

For comparison, the men’s half marathon world record was set by Jacob Kiplimo in March 2026 in Lisbon with a time of 57 minutes and 20 seconds. The women’s record belongs to Letesenbet Gidey, who clocked 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 52 seconds in 2021 in Valencia.

Improved balance and coordination

While thousands of human runners competed on one side, humanoid robots ran on a parallel track separated by metal barriers, racing alongside humans but competing among themselves.

A total of 105 humanoid robots, developed by teams including robotics companies, universities, research institutes, and enthusiasts, participated in the event.

In last year’s inaugural race, the humanoid robot Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, won with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.

At that time, many robots struggled—losing balance, falling, and sustaining damage. However, this year showed major progress, with most robots demonstrating significant improvements in speed, balance, and coordination, and far fewer experiencing technical issues.

China sees humanoid robots as a key future technology

The rapid advancement of humanoid robots in just one year highlights China’s fast progress in robotics and artificial intelligence.

Chinese authorities consider humanoid robots a critical technology that will help shape the future alongside AI.

Robots capable of operating in real-world, physically demanding conditions are expected to play transformative roles in areas such as:

• disaster rescue operations
• hazardous waste cleanup
• smart manufacturing
• elderly care