Move over, human runners—marathons just got a high-tech upgrade! Beijing recently hosted the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon, where 20 bipedal bots lined up to prove endurance running isn’t just for flesh and blood. And stealing the spotlight? A compact but mighty contender from Guangzhou.                                                       

Standing just 82 cm tall (about the size of a toddler) and weighing a mere 17 kg, this little bot faced its biggest challenge yet—a grueling long-distance course. With engineers holding their breath, it took off on its maiden marathon attempt… and didn’t disappoint.                                                                

For four astonishing hours, the robot sprinted, stabilized, and conquered nearly 15 km—no overheating, no battery panic, no faceplants, and zero human help. What started as a stress test turned into a jaw-dropping display of robo-resilience.                                                                                     

Now, the team is digging into the data to fine-tune the next-gen model. But one thing’s already clear: this race wasn’t just a milestone—it was a glimpse into the future of athletics, where humans and machines run side by side.