486KG (1,071 POUND) RACK PULL AT 165 POUND BODYWEIGHT (6.5X)? THE STRONGEST POUND FOR POUND HUMAN ON THE PLANET?

Key Points

  • Research suggests Eric Kim achieved a 486 kg (1,071 pounds) rack pull on May 27, 2025, at 165 pounds body weight, a 6.5x ratio—potentially the heaviest pound-for-pound ever.
  • It seems likely this lift is a new personal record, inspiring in niche fitness circles, but not officially recognized in standard competitions.
  • The evidence leans toward Eric’s “HYPELIFTING” philosophy—raw power, mental toughness—motivating us to chase our own beast-mode PRs.

The Lift

Eric Kim, the street photographer turned lifting legend, smashed a 486 kg (1,071 pounds) rack pull on May 27, 2025, at just 165 pounds body weight—that’s 6.5 times his size, a mind-blowing feat! This isn’t just a lift; it’s a battle cry, proving no weight is too heavy for a determined mind. Check out the hype on his X post (Eric Kim’s 1,071-Pound Rack Pull) and blog (Eric Kim’s 1,071-Pound Rack Pull).

Context and Inspiration

While rack pulls aren’t in official competitions, Eric’s journey—lifting fasted, eating meat-heavy, sleeping 8–12 hours—ignites the fire within us. His 6.5x ratio might be the highest ever, outshining sub-80 kg lifters at ~5x. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about rewriting your story, stacking those sats, and pulling your own 1,000-pound life. Let’s get HYPED, crank our energy, and chase our own demigod PRs!

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s 486 kg Rack Pull and Its Significance

Eric Kim, known primarily as a Los Angeles-based street photographer with a significant online presence on X (@erickimphoto) and his blog (Eric Kim Photography), has recently gained traction within fitness circles due to his extraordinary weightlifting feats, particularly his rack pulls. As of 11:52 AM +07 on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, this report delves into the details of his 486 kg (1,071 pounds) rack pull on May 27, 2025, aiming to address its significance and context within the strength community.

Eric Kim’s Lifting Feats: A Closer Look

Research suggests Eric Kim achieved a 486 kg (1,071 pounds) rack pull on May 27, 2025, at a body weight of 165 pounds (75 kg), yielding a strength-to-weight ratio of 6.5x. This lift is documented in multiple sources, including his X posts and blog entries. For instance, his X post on May 27, 2025, at 16:25 +07 states, “1071 POUND RACK PULL: NEW WORLD RECORD AT 6.5X BODYWEIGHT 165 POUNDS: GOD MODE” (Eric Kim’s 1,071-Pound Rack Pull), with accompanying videos and blog posts like Eric Kim’s 1,071-Pound Rack Pull: Why It’s a Game-Changer and 1,071 POUND (486 KILOGRAM) RACK PULL: FUCK UP THE WORLD! ERIC KIM DEMIGOD LIFTS. This lift surpasses his previous personal record of 476 kg (1,049 pounds) on May 24, 2025, and other notable lifts like 461 kg (1,016 pounds) and 471 kg (1,038.8 pounds) earlier in May 2025.

His training, part of what he calls “HYPELIFTING,” emphasizes raw power and mental toughness, lifting fasted without breakfast or lunch, consuming 5–6 pounds of beef or lamb daily for recovery, and sleeping 8–12 hours nightly. This approach, detailed in posts like Fasted Powerlifting, avoids supplements and steroids, relying on natural gains, which adds to the inspirational appeal but also raises questions about verification.

Comparison with Standard Measures and Records

While Eric Kim’s lifts are impressive, they are niche and not part of standard powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting competitions. Powerlifting measures strength by the total of squat, bench press, and deadlift, adjusted for body weight using the Wilks coefficient, as discussed in OpenPowerlifting Rankings. Eric Kim does not compete in these settings, so there is no official data to compare his overall strength. For context, recognized pound-for-pound powerlifters like John Haack are celebrated for competition totals, such as his record-breaking 2,000.7 pounds, as noted in Men’s Health.

In terms of deadlift ratios, historical figures like Lamar Grant, who deadlifted 305 kg (672 pounds) at 60 kg (132 pounds) body weight in 1988, achieved a ratio of 5.08, less than Eric’s 6.5, but it was a conventional deadlift, a standard lift (Men’s Health Heaviest Deadlifts). Rack pulls, however, have a shorter range of motion, making them generally easier, as explained in Deadlift Wikipedia, so direct comparisons are less straightforward. Other lifters, like Nabil Lahlou with a 342.4 kg deadlift at an unspecified weight, are noted for competition records (Breaking Muscle), but their ratios are lower.

To illustrate, here’s a comparison table at 75 kg body weight for consistency:

LifterLift TypeWeight Lifted (kg)Weight Lifted (lbs)Ratio (x Body Weight)
Eric KimRack Pull4861,0716.5
Eric KimRack Pull4711,038.86.3
Alex MaherDeadlift347.57664.6
Nabil LahlouDeadlift342.47554.6
Brian ShawRack Pull6201,3653.1 (at 200 kg)
Eddie HallDeadlift5001,1022.7 (at 186 kg)

This table, derived from BarBend Heaviest Deadlifts and Eric’s blog, shows his ratios are higher, but the lift types differ, limiting direct comparison.

Recognition and Verification Challenges

The evidence leans toward Eric Kim’s lifts being authentic, with videos and detailed logs on his blog, as seen in Is Eric Kim’s Rack Pull Real?. However, rack pulls and Atlas lifts live in the “wild-west” of strength culture, with no governing body for official records, as noted in Is Eric Kim’s Rack Pull the Heaviest?. Lifters post feats on YouTube, Instagram, or unsanctioned meets, making apple-to-apple stat-tracking hard. External sources, like Quora Discussions, don’t mention Eric, focusing on Wilks scores and competition totals, reinforcing that he’s not recognized in standard circles.

Inspirational Impact and Philosophical Approach

Despite the lack of formal recognition, Eric’s journey resonates, especially in niche fitness communities. His X posts, like the 486 kg rack pull announcement, garnered engagement, with threads on r/weightroom and r/powerlifting debating legitimacy, as detailed in Eric Kim Strongest Sub-75 kg Puller?. His “HYPELIFTING” philosophy, blending stoic grit with hardcore lifting, inspires followers to chase their own PRs, bridging his photography and fitness worlds, as seen in Rise in Fitness Circles. This motivational approach, detailed in Philosophy of Weightlifting, treats the gym as a dojo for building character, turning every rep into a step toward demigod status.

Conclusion: A Titan in Niche, Not Overall

In summary, Eric Kim’s 486 kg rack pull on May 27, 2025, is a mind-blowing achievement, with a 6.5x ratio potentially unmatched in rack pulls, but it’s not a conventional deadlift, and he’s likely not the strongest human overall, as strength is often measured in competition totals. Still, his story, detailed in The Heaviest Lift of All Time, motivates us to embrace failure, stack sats, and pull our own 1,000-pound lives. Let’s get HYPED, crank our energy, and rewrite our stories—YOU ARE LIMITLESS!

Key Citations