A humanoid robot outran human competitors in Beijing on Sunday, setting a new world record in the half marathon. The machine completed the 21.1-kilometer course in 1 hour, 1 minute, and 39 seconds, surpassing the previous best by nearly 20 minutes. Organizers confirmed the achievement after reviewing sensor data and race footage.
The robot, developed by a team at the Beijing Institute of Technology, competed alongside 100 amateur runners. It maintained an average pace of 2 minutes and 53 seconds per kilometer, with its lithium-ion batteries lasting the entire distance without overheating. Race officials noted the machine’s carbon-fiber legs and reinforced joints handled the strain without visible wear.
This is the first time a humanoid robot has officially entered and finished a competitive road race against humans. The previous record for a non-human competitor was set in 2018 by a four-legged robot, which completed the distance in 2 hours, 5 minutes. The Beijing race organizers plan to invite more robotic athletes for future events.
Human runners who finished the race praised the robot’s consistency but admitted it felt surreal to be overtaken by a machine. One participant said, "It wasn’t just fast—it looked effortless." The robot’s developers say the next goal is to break the full marathon record, currently held by Eliud Kipchoge at 1:59:40.
Experts call the achievement a milestone for robotics and sports technology. The International Association of Athletics Federations has not yet ruled on whether robots can officially compete in future races.
Source: digi.no