BEIJING, China – A Chinese humanoid robot has reportedly achieved a running speed faster than Usain Bolt’s peak speed, adding another remarkable milestone to China’s rapidly developing robotics industry.
The robot, named “Superman,” was unveiled by Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics in a video released on August 17, 2026. The machine reportedly reached a top speed of 12.66 metres per second, equivalent to approximately 45.6 kilometres per hour or 28.3 miles per hour.
That figure is higher than the 12.42 metres per second peak speed recorded by Bolt during his historic 100-metre world-record run in Berlin in 2009.
Bolt completed that race in 9.58 seconds, setting a world record that still stands more than 17 years later.
Unitree’s demonstration showed Superman accelerating rapidly on two legs during a high-speed test. The company reported that the humanoid, despite having a leg length of only 0.85 metres, could reach 12.66 metres per second.
Unitree also claimed that Superman can perform a 2-metre standing vertical jump, another extraordinary feat that the company says surpasses the human standing vertical jump record.
Superman has not officially broken Usain Bolt’s 100-metre world record. The robot’s reported 12.66 m/s represents a peak instantaneous speed, while Bolt’s 9.58-second record measures the time required to complete an entire 100-metre race.
For a robot to genuinely break Bolt’s record, it would need to complete an officially measured 100 metres in less than 9.58 seconds under comparable conditions.
Unitree’s reported speed has also not been independently verified by an outside sporting or robotics authority.
During the test, Superman reportedly struggled to slow down after reaching its top speed. The machine continued moving before eventually crashing into a barrier.
The incident illustrated the difference between developing a robot capable of accelerating quickly and creating one that can safely control its movement at high speeds.
The company also said it built the Superman system from scratch in just over three months, highlighting the pace at which Chinese robotics companies are developing increasingly sophisticated machines.
Unitree is not alone in attempting to push humanoid robots into the world of competitive athletics.
Chinese technology company Honor is developing another humanoid robot known as Flash, also referred to as Lightning, with ambitions of challenging Bolt’s 100-metre record.
Flash previously attracted attention after winning a humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing. Its developers are now reportedly working to improve its speed and performance ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games.
