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Chinese Robot Sets New Half-Marathon Record, Outpaces Human Competitors

KVIA•Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 8:36 AM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

In a groundbreaking achievement, the android named Lightning, developed by Honor, completed a half-marathon in Beijing in just 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing the previous human record by over six minutes. This milestone highlights China's advancements in robotics, particularly in humanoid technology, as the country aims to compete with the US in this sector. The event saw participation from over 100 teams, marking a significant increase from last year's inaugural competition. While Lightning dominated, human runners Zhao Haijie and Wang Qiaoxia took the top spots in the men's and women's categories, respectively, both finishing in over an hour. This event underscores China's commitment to robotics as a key industry for future economic growth.

Key Details: • Lightning completed the half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. • The previous human record was 57 minutes and 20 seconds, held by Jacob Kiplimo. • Over 100 teams participated in this year's humanoid half-marathon, nearly five times last year's number. • Zhao Haijie and Wang Qiaoxia won the human categories, finishing in over an hour.

technology innovation competition robotics marathon

People & Organizations

BeijingZhao HaijieWang QiaoxiaJacob KiplimoHonor

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