A humanoid robot from Chinese smartphone maker Honor completed a 21-kilometer half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing the human world record set by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon just weeks earlier.
The achievement marked a dramatic turnaround from the inaugural race last year, when the winning robot finished in over two hours and most entrants failed to complete the course. This year, more than 100 teams participated — up from 20 — and nearly half of the robots navigated the course autonomously, a significant increase from last year’s reliance on remote control.
Honor’s winning robot, developed by engineers including Du Xiaodi, featured legs 90 to 95 centimeters long to mimic elite human runners and incorporated liquid-cooling technology adapted from the company’s smartphones. Du said the robot had been in development for a year and emphasized that advancements in speed and structural reliability could transfer to industrial applications.
The race was held alongside a human half-marathon with 12,000 participants, though the two groups ran on parallel tracks to avoid collisions. While Honor’s autonomous robot claimed the championship under weighted scoring rules, a separate remotely controlled Honor robot crossed the finish line first in 48 minutes and 19 seconds, according to state media outlet Global Times.
CCTV reported that the runners-up, likewise from Honor and using autonomous navigation, finished in approximately 51 and 53 minutes. A robot served as a traffic officer during the event, directing participants with arm gestures and voice commands.
For more on this story, see Honor humanoid robot beats human world record in Beijing half marathon.
Spectators expressed awe at the machines’ agility, with some noting movements reminiscent of Usain Bolt. Han Chenyu, a 25-year-old student, called the spectacle “pretty cool” but admitted concern about job displacement as AI advances. Xie Lei, a 41-year-old attendee, predicted humanoids would soon enter daily life for tasks like housework, caregiving, or firefighting.
The event underscored China’s growing investment in robotics and embodied AI, which reached 73.5 billion yuan ($10.8 billion) in 2025 according to a government agency study. Organizers said the race aims to encourage innovation and public familiarity with humanoid technologies.
How did the robot manage to run faster than elite human athletes?
The robot’s design mimicked elite human runners with extended leg length and used liquid-cooling systems to prevent overheating during sustained effort, allowing it to maintain a consistent pace without fatigue.
Why did a remotely controlled robot finish first in raw time but not win the race?
Though a remotely controlled Honor robot crossed the line in 48:19, the championship was awarded to the autonomous robot that finished in 50:26 under the event’s weighted scoring rules, which prioritize self-navigation.
What does this race indicate about the state of humanoid robotics in China?
The surge in participation — from 20 to over 100 teams — and the leap in performance reveal rapid progress in China’s robotics sector, driven by significant investment and state-backed innovation goals.
Are humanoid robots likely to replace human workers soon?
While experts like Du Xiaodi observe potential for technology transfer to industry, widespread commercialization remains distant, and current applications are still limited to controlled environments like races or demonstrations.
