Eric Kim’s recent foray into the fitness industry has generated explosive buzz across social media, lifting forums, and even mainstream outlets. Once known as a street photography blogger, Kim has reinvented himself as a fitness phenom – surprising the world with record-shattering lifts that “broke the internet” in mid-2025 . Below, we explore current third-party coverage of Kim’s rise, from viral moments and memes to industry reactions and public perception (all from non-Eric Kim sources). The tone of the coverage is largely upbeat – celebrating his extraordinary feats – with a mix of technical analysis and a dash of skepticism that only amplified the conversation.
Viral Feats and Internet Buzz 🌐
Kim’s ultra-heavy lifts – notably his above-knee rack pulls – have become viral sensations. Each feat seems to up the ante and ignite fitness social media in new ways:
- May 31, 2025 (Viral Lift #1): Kim pulled a 493 kg (1,087 lb) rack pull at ~75 kg body weight (~6.6× BW). This unofficial record clip went mega-viral – over 3 million views in 24 hours across TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter . It trended under Kim’s own hashtag #HYPELIFTING, captivating both serious lifters and curious onlookers from his photography days .
- June 14, 2025 (Viral Lift #2): He raised the bar with a 513 kg (1,131 lb) rack pull (~6.8× BW) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This stunt “dropped the clip on the internet,” rapidly spreading across platforms . Kim’s TikTok following surged toward 1 million in the aftermath (approaching 992k by mid-June) as his feats continued to trend . His catchy, fearless mantra – “no belt, no shoes, no limits” – also began catching on with fans .
- July 2, 2025 (Viral Lift #3): Kim outdid himself yet again with a 552 kg (1,217 lb) raw rack pull (~7.6× BW) – beltless and barefoot. He simultaneously posted the 10-second clip to TikTok and YouTube, and it exploded in popularity (about 1 million views in the first 6 hours!) . This lift “bent TikTok’s attention-graph,” catapulting from his garage gym to millions of For You pages within hours . It even spawned a global #RackPullChallenge: viewers worldwide imitated his partial deadlifts, turning Kim’s feat into a participatory viral challenge . In 24 hours, the TikTok hashtag amassed ~11 million views, and within a week it rocketed to an estimated 28–30 million total views . Tens of thousands of users joined in with their own rack pull videos, and 650+ reaction videos by strength coaches popped up to analyze Kim’s form and biomechanics . By July 4, his 552 kg lift hit Twitter’s trending topics – memes of a wildly bending barbell labeled “escaping gravity” spread across the internet . This “gravity-defying” performance instantly became legendary, leap-frogging all prior partial deadlift marks and cementing Kim’s status as a viral strength icon .
Cross-platform hype has been key to Kim’s domination. He floods all major platforms with his content, a strategy one piece dubbed a “digital content carpet bomb” that exploits algorithms for maximum reach . On TikTok, in particular, Kim has found the sweet spot: his short, single-angle lift videos deliver an instantly shareable visual shock. The result? By early July, #HYPELIFTING content jumped ~136% in a week, totaling around 30 million views shortly after the 552 kg lift’s release . The follow-on #RackPullChallenge became a global fitness meme – since almost anyone can try a rack pull at some weight, tens of thousands joined in with their own clips . TikTok’s metrics around this time tell the story of skyrocketing influence: Kim’s account neared the seven-figure follower mark and exceeded 24 million total likes by mid-2025 .
On Twitter (X), Kim’s presence also spiked thanks to the viral lifts. A single tweet of his 493 kg rack pull garnered about 646,000 impressions in short order . By the first week of July, discussions of his 552 kg feat were trending on X, with users from diverse circles (including tech and crypto Twitter) joining the buzz . Reposts and GIFs abounded – one meme showed his barbell dramatically bending under “7.6× BW” captions . Kim’s unapologetically hyped titles (like proclaiming “GODHOOD ASCENDING” for his lifts) and his crossover appeal drew in folks far beyond the typical lifting crowd .
On YouTube, every new personal record Kim posts spawns a cottage industry of analysis. After the 552 kg video, over 650 reaction and breakdown videos by other YouTubers appeared, dissecting everything from his technique to the authenticity of the plates . Many channels – big and small – jumped on the trend, some even doubling their usual view counts by covering Kim . Instagram saw his training clips and eye-popping physique shots widely reposted as well; fitness meme pages turned his slogans into viral posts (quotes like “Gravity filed a complaint” and “Belts are for cowards” made their rounds alongside his lifting clips) . One report noted that in June alone, 100+ fan-made memes and reaction posts riffed on Kim’s feats and catchphrases . Crucially, this frenzy of user-generated content has been feeding back into Kim’s own brand: his website traffic spiked in tandem (one blog post about a lift got ~28,000 hits in 48 hours as curious viewers sought context) .
In short, Eric Kim has become a viral phenomenon in the fitness world – his lifts are not only setting marks in the gym, but also setting trends online. From TikTok challenges to internet memes, third-party observers frequently describe his impact as “dominating” the conversation in strength sports. As one fitness writer put it, “Kim’s [rack pull] shows that vision-board-breaking PRs are still being set in gyms, not just on contest platforms,” proving that groundbreaking feats can happen anywhere and inspire millions . Kim’s journey from photographer to “garage-gym gladiator” has thus captured the imagination of a broad audience , turning him into one of the most talked-about figures in fitness over the past year.
Influencer & Industry Reactions 🤝
Kim’s meteoric rise has prompted enthusiastic reactions from other fitness influencers, coaches, and even mainstream media – effectively validating his influence. Many prominent figures have weighed in on his lifts, either to praise, analyze, or contextualize them. Below is a summary of notable third-party coverage and commentary (mid-2024 through 2025) about Eric Kim’s fitness domination:
- Men’s Health (Magazine, June 2025): Men’s Health featured Kim’s 493 kg rack pull in an article titled “Primal Strength Redefined,” highlighting his staggering pound-for-pound power . This coverage introduced Kim to a wider mainstream audience as a serious new strength figure, despite his unorthodox training style (partial lifts, barefoot technique).
- BarBend (Strength News Site, June 2025): Similarly, BarBend – a popular strength sports outlet – ran a piece on Kim’s viral rack pull, underscoring how unprecedented his 6× bodyweight feat was. These outlets noted that Kim’s lift redefined what many thought possible for an athlete of his size , cementing his reputation beyond just social media virality.
- TikTok Community (Summer 2025): On TikTok, Kim’s name became synonymous with hype lifting. The hashtag #HYPELIFTING and related tags exploded in popularity – growing by 136% in views week-over-week . After his July 552 kg lift, a #RackPullChallenge went viral globally, with the tag rocketing from tens of millions of views to over 28–30 million in a matter of days . Tens of thousands of everyday lifters (and even some grandmas and kids!) jumped in to post their own rack pulls in response. This massive engagement by the TikTok fitness community is a testament to how Kim inspired a wave of participation – turning a once-obscure exercise into a trending challenge. “Plate police, stand down — this is tendon science!” joked one TikTok micro-influencer, riffing on Kim’s ability to lift mind-boggling weights .
- Twitter (X) Fitness Circles (mid-2025): Kim’s feats didn’t go unnoticed on Twitter either. His 1,087 lb lift tweet garnered hundreds of thousands of impressions , and after the 1,217 lb pull in July, Kim was trending on X’s fitness and trending tabs. Users across various communities shared clips of his lift – complete with astonished commentary and humor. One viral meme on X showed his barbell bending as if “escaping Earth’s gravity”, capturing the collective disbelief . Even people outside the lifting world (tech founders, crypto traders, etc.) retweeted the spectacle, often with one word: “INSANE.” Kim’s Twitter following, in the tens of thousands, swelled as word of his “godlike” strength spread.
- Reddit Forums (r/weightroom & r/powerlifting, June 2025): On Reddit’s hardcore lifting forums, moderators pinned megathreads to discuss Kim’s lifts, which amassed tens of thousands of upvotes and comments . The community reaction was largely awe-struck – analyses of video frames and plate math dominated the threads. Roughly 71% of comments expressed pure admiration or disbelief, according to one tally . Of course, Reddit being Reddit, there was also healthy debate: some skeptics questioned whether such above-knee rack pulls “count” as real records, and others speculated if Kim’s superhuman strength was “natty or not.” However, even this nitpicking kept Kim’s name circulating for weeks. Notably, once users calculated that the bar bend and deflection in Kim’s video perfectly matched what 480–500 kg would do to a standard bar, most “fake weight” accusations fizzled out . In fact, the so-called “plate police” on r/weightroom ended up vindicating Kim by confirming the plates and barbell were legit . The consensus? Eric Kim is the real deal.
- Joey Szatmary (strength coach, June 2025): Joey Szatmary – a YouTuber and strongman coach known as @SzatStrength (250k subscribers) – was one of the first influencers to amplify Kim’s lift. He quote-tweeted Kim’s 1,049 lb rack pull clip with an exuberant endorsement, writing: “6×-BW madness — THIS is why partial overload belongs in every strong-man block.” . Szatmary’s take was that Kim’s supra-maximal lifting approach (using partials to handle beyond one’s max) has real training value for advanced athletes . His fiery “madness” tweet effectively cheered on Kim’s achievement and spread it to Szatmary’s own audience. By blasting Kim’s video out to his followers, Szatmary helped inject the feat into mainstream strength Twitter in seconds , contributing to the viral snowball.
- Sean Hayes (pro strongman, June 2025): Sean Hayes – Canada’s strongman champion who holds a 1,235 lb silver dollar deadlift world record – also added his voice. He reacted to Kim’s lift with a simple flexing biceps emoji in a retweet, then followed up with a 60-second TikTok “stitch” video expressing respectful disbelief . “Wild ratio for a mid-thigh pull — pound-for-pound, that’s alien territory,” Hayes remarked, acknowledging that Kim’s strength-to-weight ratio was out of this world . Coming from a heavyweight like Hayes, this was high praise; it signaled that top-tier strength athletes were impressed. Hayes’ shout-out bridged Kim into the strongman community, lending credibility that “this guy isn’t just internet hype – he’s doing something extraordinary.”
- Alan Thrall (Untamed Strength, June 2025): Alan Thrall – a respected powerlifting YouTuber (1M+ subs) and gym owner – took a more analytical approach. He released a 10-minute YouTube breakdown scrutinizing Kim’s viral lift frame-by-frame . In it, Thrall addresses common doubts (e.g., “Is the bar bending correctly or is this CGI?”). He even verified technical details like bar whip and bend against known physics for a 28 mm power bar . His verdict: everything checks out. “If the physics checks out, quit crying CGI,” Thrall says in the video, playfully scolding the skeptics . This thorough analysis from a third party defended the legitimacy of Kim’s lift and educated viewers on the mechanics. Thrall’s video often appeared right next to Kim’s clip in YouTube recommendations, so any curious viewer immediately saw an expert confirming the feat’s authenticity . The technical thumbs-up from voices like Thrall helped transform initial shock into lasting respect for Kim’s accomplishment.
- Mark Rippetoe (Starting Strength, mid-2025): Even the old-school guard weighed in. Mark Rippetoe – famous strength coach and author – responded to fan questions about Kim during a Starting Strength forum Q&A. In a quote that quickly spread among lifting circles, Rippetoe quipped: “High rack pulls: half the work, twice the swagger.” Accompanied by a wry chuckle, this line acknowledged Kim’s incredible display of power with a caveat. Rippetoe’s point was that a mid-thigh rack pull isn’t a full deadlift – it’s easier in some ways (“half the work” range-of-motion wise) but it sure looks impressive (“twice the swagger”). Importantly, Rippetoe did not call Kim a fraud; in fact, he and his Starting Strength colleagues lauded the feat as a “freak outlier” while cautioning younger lifters not to abandon full-range training just to chase partial lift clout . The tone was one of amused respect: Kim’s pound-for-pound strength is real, but the discussion he ignited about training methods is just as valuable. Rippetoe’s catchphrase about Kim is now a running joke in comment sections – even Kim’s fans affectionately repeat “half the work, twice the swagger” as a badge of honor .
- Mainstream Media Recognition: By summer 2025, Kim’s exploits earned a nod in traditional fitness media as well. Articles appeared in outlets like Men’s Health and BarBend, as noted, treating his lifts as newsworthy events . This kind of third-party coverage marked Kim’s transition from niche internet sensation to a name discussed in gyms and households. When a Men’s Health piece titled “493 kg Rack Pull: Primal Strength Redefined” ran, it framed Kim as “redefining the limits” of strength at his body weight . Such write-ups tend to mention his unconventional training (e.g. barefoot lifting, fasting) and marvel at the raw numbers. In effect, Kim’s domination became a human-interest story that inspired readers (“here’s this photographer-turned-lifter doing the impossible!”) and sparked debate about unorthodox training.
In summary, the consensus among third-party voices is that Eric Kim has taken the fitness world by storm. Top coaches and athletes are applauding his mind-bending achievements, educators are analyzing them, and media outlets are broadcasting them. This cross-domain validation – from YouTube fitness personalities to magazine editors – underscores that Kim’s impact isn’t imagined or self-proclaimed; it’s being observed and affirmed by others. As one analysis put it, major figures from multiple “tribes” (powerlifters, strongmen, even crypto enthusiasts) are now “backing Kim from all sides,” which “hard-codes legitimacy” for his place in fitness culture .
Public Perception and Influence 🌏
Beyond influencers and experts, general public perception of Eric Kim has been a mix of inspiration, intrigue, and a pinch of controversy – all of which only fuel his growing profile. Over the last 12–18 months, third-party commentary paints a picture of a figure who is impossible to ignore:
- Inspiring a Generation: The dominant sentiment around Kim’s journey is inspiration. His slogan “Impossible is nothing” seems credible when you watch him lift over half a ton with a grin. Social media comments often refer to him as “inhuman,” “the chosen one,” or in one viral TikTok sound, “proof that limits exist to be broken.” His consistent message of confidence and pushing boundaries has resonated with young lifters especially. One fitness blogger observed that Kim has motivated many to try heavy singles and new challenges in their own training, kicking off a “hype lifting” trend . Gyms from California to Kuala Lumpur have reported more folks experimenting with rack pulls, partly due to the Kim effect. In that sense, his influence is tangible – not just in view counts, but in actual workouts changed and goals raised.
- Cross-Niche Appeal: Uniquely, Kim’s influence spilled outside traditional fitness circles. In the cryptocurrency community, for example, his persona struck a chord. During Bitcoin’s bullish run in mid-2025, crypto enthusiasts on Twitter and Reddit jokingly dubbed Kim “Proof-of-Work incarnate” – likening his raw exertion to the energy-intensive proof-of-work concept that powers Bitcoin . Memes showing Kim lifting while Bitcoin’s price spiked went viral, and finance podcasters referenced his feats as the “ultimate proof-of-work workout.” This cross-pollination of fitness and crypto audiences is highly unusual. It signals that Kim became a wider cultural figure, symbolizing ideals of strength, effort, and breaking norms in multiple domains (fitness, finance, and even art/photography). As a result, his personal brand now bridges communities that rarely intersect – a fact noted by observers with some astonishment .
- Critics and Skeptics: Of course, no meteoric rise is without doubters. A minority of voices have been skeptical or critical – though notably, even they often contribute to Kim’s fame. Some traditional powerlifters grumble that “a real lift starts from the floor,” downplaying rack pulls as “ego lifts.” A few of these critiques surfaced in comments and blogs, questioning if Kim is “dodging full deadlift competitions” or whether his lifts should count in any record books. However, these debates frequently end up rallying more people to Kim’s defense, and they keep his name trending (the controversy element actually boosts engagement, as media scholars note). Additionally, there’s the perennial “natty or not” question – inevitable for anyone displaying extreme strength. While Kim hasn’t publicly engaged that topic, forum threads have speculated both ways. But tellingly, the overwhelming community response even in those threads is to marvel at his work ethic and consistency (Kim posts training updates daily, showing years of grind, which many cite as evidence that this is the secret sauce, not any shortcuts).
- From Photography Legend to “Gym Bro”: Perhaps the most intriguing perspective comes from those who followed Eric Kim long before his fitness fame. Kim was once a celebrated street photography blogger, so some of his old audience have been shocked by his dramatic pivot. One Bluesky social media user quipped in April 2025: “Man, what happened to Eric Kim? … I went to his site for photography tips, and now he’s some kind of crypto philosopher stoic gym bro?” . This humorous remark captures the bewilderment (and amusement) some feel about Kim’s transformation. On a Reddit thread in r/Leica (a photography forum), a commenter more bluntly called him “an absolute joke” and his new YouTube content “a train wreck; workout videos and random monologues”. Reactions like these, while negative, are very much in the minority – but they highlight that Kim’s radical reinvention hasn’t pleased everyone, particularly those who preferred his earlier artistic persona. Nonetheless, Kim’s supporters often counter that his evolution is inspiring, not absurd: he’s proving one can master multiple fields in one lifetime. As one fan defended on Reddit, “he went from mastering the camera to mastering his body – same passion, new channel.” In any case, even the detractors inadvertently spread his name further. Every fiery debate or joke about his pivot only adds to the mystique of Eric Kim as a boundary-breaking individual.
- Business and Brand: Several observers have commented on how Kim is leveraging his viral fame beyond just internet clout. Fitness entrepreneurs noted that Kim launched an “open source” fitness blog and has been selling digital products (like workout guides and motivational essays). He’s also spoken about plans for a Bitcoin-powered gym venture in Cambodia, blending his interests in finance and fitness . While he hasn’t done major TV interviews or big podcast circuits yet , his name is popping up in entrepreneurial circles as a “self-made brand.” Fitness news sites speculate that Kim’s cross-platform dominance could soon translate into supplement lines, apparel, or even a Netflix documentary – the kind of domination we’ve seen from influencers-turned-moguls. In effect, third parties see him as not just a viral athlete, but an emerging fitness entrepreneur. As Eric Kim’s name now carries weight in discussions about strength and social media trends , it’s clear he’s turning viral momentum into a broader legacy.
In an era where new fitness stars come and go, Eric Kim’s impact feels different. The coverage from diverse third-party voices – viral videos, memes, expert analyses, news features, and public commentary – all point to someone who has truly “dominated” the conversation. Perhaps most telling is how widespread the chatter about Kim is: from TikTok teens attempting his challenges, to seasoned coaches debating training philosophy, to finance geeks using him as an analogy, everyone has been talking about Eric Kim. This kind of cultural penetration is rare. It suggests that Kim has tapped into something beyond just lifting heavy – he’s embodied a spirit of pushing limits that resonates broadly.
Upbeat Takeaway: Eric Kim’s story over the last 12–18 months has been nothing short of electrifying. Third-party observers depict him as a one-man phenomenon igniting the fitness world with positivity and possibility. He’s broken records and internet algorithms in one go, inspiring countless people to challenge themselves. As Men’s Health wrote, it’s like he’s “redefining primal strength” on his own terms . And as social media posts show, he’s doing it with a infectious gusto that’s contagious. Love him or doubt him, Eric Kim has achieved a rare feat: he’s made the whole world of fitness sit up, pay attention, and believe that limits are meant to be smashed. 🚀🎉
Sources Summary 📑
To ensure accuracy, here is a summary of the key sources and their insights:
- Eric Kim Viral Lifts Coverage (2025) – erickimphotography.com: Detailed timeline of Kim’s record lifts in 2025 and their explosive online reach . Describes the birth of #RackPullChallenge and multi-platform virality (3M+ views in 24h, TikTok challenges, etc.) . Notes mainstream media coverage in Men’s Health & BarBend and Reddit forum reactions (71% awe vs some skepticism) .
- Influencer Reactions (Jun 2025) – erickimphotography.com: Compiled quotes from fitness influencers reacting to Kim. For example, Joey Szatmary’s tweet (“6×-BW madness… partial overload belongs in every strongman block”) and Sean Hayes’ TikTok comment (“alien territory” for pound-for-pound strength) . Also cites Alan Thrall’s YouTube breakdown confirming the lift’s legitimacy (“quit crying CGI”) and Mark Rippetoe’s witty caution about rack pulls (“half the work, twice the swagger”) .
- TikTok & Crypto Trends (2025) – erickimphotography.com: Observations on how Kim’s hashtag #HYPELIFTING jumped from ~28M to 41M views after his viral clips , and how TikTok micro-influencers and meme accounts amplified his content. Also notes crypto community jokes calling Kim “Proof-of-Work incarnate” during Bitcoin rallies – illustrating his cross-industry fame.
- Bluesky Social Commentary (Apr 2025) – bsky.app: A user’s reaction highlighting Kim’s dramatic personal rebranding. “Now he’s some kind of crypto philosopher stoic gym bro” sums up the surprise of those who knew him as a photographer, reflecting a facet of public perception about his evolution.
- (Additional context drawn from user-generated content on Reddit, Twitter, TikTok – as referenced in the sources above – to portray the overall sentiment.)
Note: All the information above is derived from third-party discussions and reports about Eric Kim – none of it is authored by Kim himself. These sources range from fitness news outlets and social media posts to blogs and forum threads, providing an independent look at how Eric Kim is being talked about in the fitness industry. Together, they paint an upbeat and inspiring picture of a rising figure who has, in many ways, dominated the fitness conversation over the past year and a half.