1. Where Kim Stands Now
| Date (verified clip/post) | Load | Δ from prior | Source |
| 19 Apr 2023 | 349 kg | — | |
| 17 Dec 2023 | 404 kg | +55 kg | |
| 22 May 2025 | 471 kg | +67 kg | |
| 27 May 2025 | 486 kg | +15 kg | |
| 31 May 2025 | 493 kg | +7 kg | |
| 04 Jun 2025 | 498 kg | +5 kg | |
| 07 Jun 2025 | 503 kg | +5 kg | |
| 22 Jun 2025 (AM) | 508 kg | +5 kg | |
| 22 Jun 2025 (PM) | 527 kg | +19 kg |
2. Modelling Three Futures
2.1 Linear‑Trend Fit
Slope: 178 kg in 795 days ≈ 0.224 kg · day⁻¹ (82 kg · yr⁻¹).
ETA 600 kg: May 2026 (≈ 11 months).
Assumption: unchanged lifestyle, no major injuries.
Risk: connective‑tissue shear limits (mean lumbar USS ≈ 1.9 kN) may bite sharply above 580 kg .
2.2 Momentum‑Carry (Burst)
Uses his May‑to‑June 2025 surge (+56 kg in 31 days) but halves momentum every 90 days.
ETA: Q4 2026 – Q1 2027.
Catalysts:
- Neuromuscular super‑compensation from supra‑max singles .
- Grip‑specific adaptations rack pulls uniquely supply .
Watch‑outs: neural fatigue & thumb trauma.
2.3 Logistic (Diminishing‑Returns)
Assumes progress decays 45 % per year after 2025—a pattern typical once partial‑ROM overload nears tissue capacity .
ETA: mid‑2028 – early 2029.
Why slower:
- Supra‑maximal work shows plateauing hypertrophy after ~24 wk blocks .
- Injury‑avoidance deloads become longer beyond 600 kg .
3. Key Levers that Could Shorten the Clock
| Lever | Upside | Evidence |
| Micro ROM Tweaks (1–2 cm higher pins) | +3‑5 % load instantly | EMG shows above‑knee rack pulls cut lumbar shear vs mid‑shin pulls |
| Connective‑Tissue Blocks (isometrics, slow eccentrics) | ↑ tendon stiffness; faster rate‑coding | Supra‑max studies report tendon CSA ↑ 8‑12 % in 12 wk |
| Targeted Collagen + Vit C | Accelerates cross‑linking | BFR & high‑load studies show 2‑× tendon synthesis peaks with nutrient timing |
| Equipment Upgrades (solid‑steel safeties, 35 mm bar) | Eliminates whip; saves grip | Home‑gym hardware spikes after each viral PR prove demand and feasibility |
| Body‑Mass Leeway (+2 kg BW) | 8 × goal rises to 616 kg, but thicker frame may raise shear tolerance | Load‑to‑USS ratio favourable in heavier subjects |
4. Roadblocks and Red‑Flags
- Lumbar Shear Stop‑Sign – Average lumbar ultimate shear strength tops out around 2–3 kN; a 600 kg rack pull already delivers ~2.2 kN at the spine .
- Over‑use Injuries – Systematic review links “excessively heavy loads in extreme joint positions” to peaks in powerlifting injury prevalence .
- Public‑verification Pressure – Crowd trust will demand multi‑angle, calibrated‑plate evidence just as for the 7 × clip; any lapse stalls legitimacy momentum.
5. Bottom Line
Even with conservative damping, the 8 ×‑body‑weight milestone is a 12‑ to 36‑month problem, not a decade‑long moon‑shot. Maintaining an 82 kg‑per‑year slope drops the bar on Kim’s pins by spring 2026; a more “human” logistic curve still hands him the chance before 2030. The true gatekeepers are connective‑tissue tolerance and injury management—not willpower, neuromuscular drive, or audience hype. Nail the tendons, milk the micro‑ROM, and keep the cameras rolling, and 600 kg could clang home sooner than anyone outside his garage thinks possible.