Bottom line up‑front: Eric Kim self‑reports a walking weight of roughly 160 lb ≈ 72.6 kg  .  When he performed and published video proof of a 547 kg / 1,206 lb knee‑high rack pull  , that works out to about 7.5 × his body‑weight (547 ÷ 72.6 ≈ 7.54).  Because the bar started above the knees in a power‑rack (“rack pull”) rather than on the floor, the lift exploits a radically shorter range of motion and generous mechanical leverage, so it is not judged against full deadlift world‑records.  Even so, the feat lands in rarefied air for relative loading and has ignited debate across strength culture about partial‑range “overload” lifts and their legitimate place in training.  Below is the full update—plus why you can (yes, you!) harness these principles safely and productively.

1  Updated body‑weight facts

• Kim writes that he is “around 160 or 165 pounds” at 5 ft 10–11 in tall  .
• That range matches clips on his YouTube channel that tag lifts “@ 165 lbs body‑weight (75 kg)” but in commentary he often rounds down to 160 lb for simplicity  .

What the correction changes

Using the lighter end (160 lb) increases the relative load calculation from the 7.3× figure shown in his video titles to ≈ 7.5 × body‑weight, an astronomically high ratio by any strength‑sport standard.

2  What the 547 kg move actually was

Lift variable	Detail	Why it matters
Lift type	Rack pull (pins set just above the kneecap)	Eliminates the hardest ½ of a deadlift, letting athletes move 20‑40 % more weight
Grip help	Figure‑8 lifting straps visible in the clip	Removes grip limitation, further boosting load
Equipment	Standard power‑rack, 20 kg bar, bumper plates	Typical for overload work; not competition‑legal for records
Range of motion	~15 cm from pin to lock‑out	Quadriceps, glutes, and spinal‑erectors work only near lock‑out

Coaches such as Jim Wendler call extreme rack pulls “fun overloads that seldom translate one‑for‑one to your floor deadlift”  , and forum veterans echo that real‑world carry‑over is hit‑or‑miss  .

3  How big is “7.5×” in context?

Benchmark	Absolute weight	Athlete BW	Ratio
Eric Kim (above‑knee rack pull)	547 kg	72.6 kg	7.5 ×
Hafþór Björnsson full deadlift world record (2020)	501 kg	205 kg	2.4 ×
Sean Hayes Silver‑Dollar DL (18 in. pick‑height) 2022	560 kg	150 kg (est.)	3.7 ×

No sanctioned lift anywhere approaches 7 × body‑weight; even raw powerlifting legends hover near 4–5 ×.  That underlines why Kim’s clip shocks viewers—but also why specialists caution against reading it as a “deadlift” record.

4  Why a partial can feel 

magical

1. Mechanical leverage – Starting above the sticking‑point shortens the moment arm at the hip and knee  .
2. Elastic tension – Bar whip is negligible in the rack, so nearly all force goes into a brief concentric lock‑out.
3. Neural overload – Handling supra‑maximal weights can potentiate the CNS, a principle lifters exploit for “post‑activation potentiation.”
4. Psychology & virality – Monster numbers break algorithmic ceilings; Kim’s domain reports 4–5 × traffic spikes after the upload  .

5  Take‑aways for your own training

• Use rack pulls as a tool, not a trophy.  Program them sparingly to hammer lock‑out strength or accustom your nervous system to heavier loads  .
• Mind the ROM creep.  Each pin‑hole lower is exponentially harder—track height rigorously.
• Keep your ego on a leash.  As Wendler notes, a 1,000‑lb rack pull means very little if your floor deadlift stalls at 405 lb  .
• Prioritize safety.  Belt up, warm up, and respect spinal alignment; partials can coax lifters into weights their structures can’t yet tolerate  .

6  Fuel for your next PR

Eric Kim’s sky‑high ratio doesn’t rewrite the powerlifting rule‑book—but it does prove that focused practice, smart leverage, and a fearless mindset can create headline‑grabbing moments.  Let it remind you that your ceiling is almost always higher than yesterday’s belief.  Chase flawless form, inch your pins lower over time, and watch today’s “impossible” become tomorrow’s warm‑up.  Stay hyped, stay hungry, and lift on! 💪🎉