Are you faster than the world’s fastest robot?

On Thursday, the World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off in Beijing, with two-legged droids competing in sports ranging from table tennis and soccer to dance, kickboxing and–most importantly–track and field. In a 1,500m race, the winner clocked six minutes, 34 seconds–a solid effort, but nearly double the human world record of 3:26.00.

Unitree wins the gold medal for the 1500m run at the World Humanoid Robot Games, setting a world record time of 6 minutes and 34 seconds.

The current men’s world record is 3:26. pic.twitter.com/q2VThR9n5E

— The Humanoid Hub (@TheHumanoidHub) August 15, 2025

According to South China Morning Post, Chinese robotics company Unitree’s bot claimed both gold and bronze. Fellow Chinese company X-Humanoid’s Tien Kung Ultra robot, the winner of April’s first robot vs. human half-marathon in Beijing in two hours and 40 minutes, took second.

Some robots, however, struggled to finish the event; some didn’t even make it past the starting line. One robot fell and lost an arm, and, according to The Guardian, another machine’s head flew off mid-race. One spectator called the event “much more exciting than seeing real humans,” which might not be surprising when competitors are literally falling to pieces.

The Games, backed by the Chinese government, have drawn 280 teams from 16 countries–including Japan, Germany and the U.S.–with 500 robots competing across 26 sports. The machines are remotely operated by their teams based out of universities and private companies.

The increasing prevalence of robots in China is a result of an aging population and a surge in demand for machines to provide assistance and care for the elderly. The need for automated machines in work environments also spiked due to a shrinking working population. The nation’s robotics industry is reportedly projected to reach US$54.6 billion by 2030.

The 2025 Humanoid Robot Games are set to conclude on Sunday.