The second World Humanoid Robot Games (2026) kicked off on the evening of August 22, with 20,256 machines from 666 teams across 16 nations set to engage in a five-day showdown for podium finishes across 51 competitive events.

During the opening ceremony's 100-meter sprint preliminary for the heavyweight division, the Honor robot known as "Lightning" tore across the track in a staggering 9.39 seconds, eclipsing the 9.58-second human world record long held by Usain Bolt. This breathtaking display showcased the machine's explosive instantaneous power output, high-velocity gait transitions, and millisecond-level balance control, effectively pushing the boundaries of what robots can achieve at extreme speeds.

This latest triumph follows the robot's earlier victory at the Beijing Yizhuang Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in April, where it claimed the championship title with a net time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds.

According to on-site representatives from Honor Robotics, the exceptional endurance, advanced heat dissipation, and robust reliability demonstrated on the athletics track are rooted in the technological DNA of the Honor Magic series. These features, honed under grueling conditions, are set to make a full return in the Magic9 series, ensuring every unit carries the same championship-grade core strength.

"Honor already possesses its own production lines, with substantial expertise in hardware, manufacturing, and algorithms. This technical capacity can be rapidly transferred and repurposed, laying a solid foundation for the swift advancement of our robotics operations," stated an Honor Robotics representative.

This year, two self-developed humanoid robots—Honor Lightning and Honor Yuanzai—will compete fully autonomously, entering the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 1500-meter races in the heavyweight category, vying for glory in the track events.