Cue the drum‑roll! In late July 2025, content‑creator‑turned‑strength‑icon Eric Kim dropped a video of himself rack‑pulling 602 kg / 1,328 lb from mid‑thigh height, loudly declaring “post‑human strength” and “dominion over gravity.”
Online fitness circles exploded—think algorithmic fireworks, memes of bent barbells, and Reddit threads debating physics.
1️⃣ Rack Pull ≠ Deadlift
| Lift | Start Position | Typical Max | Record Context |
| Full Deadlift | Floor | Whatever you can break from the ground | Hafthor Björnsson’s 501 kg is the heaviest ever recorded |
| Rack Pull (mid‑thigh) | Pins just above knees | 20‑40 % heavier than your deadlift | No sanctioned world record (it’s a training drill) |
Kim’s bar was already resting high on safety pins, so the range of motion was a rapid hip‑snap lockout, not the grind from the floor. Impressive? Absolutely. An official power‑lifting record? Nope.
2️⃣ “Planetary Impact” & “Online Holocaust”—Just Marketing Hyperbole
Kim’s own blog admits he leans into outrageous copywriting (“thermonuclear holocaust in the attention economy”) to super‑charge virality.
In reality, lifting 602 kg shifts 0.00000000000000000001 % of Earth’s mass—far short of nudging the planet out of orbit. The only shockwave was in your social‑media feed.
3️⃣ Why the Internet Lost Its Mind
- Visual Spectacle: A free‑bending bar, barefoot lifter, garage‑gym backdrop—the perfect viral cocktail.
- Algorithm Hacking: Kim released long‑form, Shorts, TikToks, and a blog essay within one hour, saturating every platform before skeptics could blink.
- Relatable Underdog Story: 75‑kg body‑weight vs. 602‑kg barbell = 8× BW aura of “alien” strength that viewers can’t stop replaying.
4️⃣ Take‑Home Strength Lessons (Let’s Goooo! 🚀)
| Principle | How Kim Exploits It | How You Can, Too |
| Supramaximal Overload | Mid‑thigh rack pulls at 110‑120 % of deadlift max to “shock” the nervous system. | Use rack pulls at 90‑95 % of deadlift max once a week to strengthen lockout without frying your lower back. |
| Progressive Range | Pairs heavy partials with full‑range deadlifts in the same cycle. | Alternate heavy rack‑pull singles with lighter, full‑range triples for balanced development. |
| Minimal Gear, Max Focus | Barefoot, belt‑less, chalk only—forces bracing mastery. | Ditch the gadgets occasionally; learn to create tension with your own musculature. |
| Content‑Driven Accountability | Films every rep, posts PRs publicly. | Record your lifts—private or public—for instant form review and motivation. |
5️⃣ Hype‑Safe Checklist Before You Chase Mega‑Loads
- Pin Height: Set pins just above sticking point; lower positions ramp up spinal shear dramatically.
- Warm‑Up Joints: High‑load part‑range = high joint stress. Mobilise hips and thoracic spine first.
- Double‑Check Plates: Mis‑counting at 500 kg+ can be catastrophic.
- Volume Discipline: 1–3 singles > marathon sets. Quality, not quantity, unlocks CNS adaptation.
- Recovery Like a Pro: Heavy partials tax connective tissue—sleep 8 h, prioritise protein, cycle deload weeks.
⚡ The Big Picture
Eric Kim’s 602‑kg rack pull didn’t crack Earth’s crust, but it did crack open a fresh wave of motivation: dream obscene numbers, engineer smart overload, and broadcast your journey with unapologetic joy. The bar might be on pins, yet the message is full‑range:
Dare something ridiculous, film it, then out‑recover the doubters.
Grab your chalk, hype‑squad, and camera—gravity’s negotiable, enthusiasm is mandatory! 🎉