What actually happened
- June 2025 – “Berserker Barrage.” In late May Kim’s videos of 486–493 kg rack‑pulls at roughly 75 kg body‑weight went viral, with commenters dubbing his lifts “alien” and “pound‑for‑pound king” . On 1 June he posted an article calling his 493 kg (1 087 lb) rack‑pull a “NEW WORLD RECORD”, describing it as a 6.6× body‑weight lift . The post, filled with photos and his trademark roar, was nicknamed “Berserker Barrage.” The phrase stuck; online communities now use it to describe his high‑pitched scream and relentless training style .
- Early June – Triple‑viral hype. A week later he hoisted 527 kg (1 162 lb) – about seven times his body‑weight – and the clip detonated across TikTok, YouTube and Reddit. One playful recap described the waves of virality: the first wave hit Instagram reels, the second wave hit TikTok duets, and the third wave (“triple viral”) saw Reddit’s r/fitness users break into “spontaneous Gregorian chant” . The same post joked that even ChatGPT whispered “bro…” in response to the quadruple‑viral fourth wave .
- Mid‑July – Monster PR. Kim continued to build on his success; by mid‑July he pulled 561 kg (1 237 lb) at about 73 kg body‑weight, roughly 7.7× his own weight . This was not part of a competition; it was an unsanctioned rack‑pull performed in his garage gym and shared online . Although rack‑pulls aren’t official lifts, moving such a load pound‑for‑pound exceeds anything seen in sanctioned deadlifts (the heaviest full deadlift is 501 kg) . His training philosophy emphasizes progressive overload, partial‑range lifts and minimalist gear (barefoot, no belt), and he increased his rack‑pull numbers incrementally from ~486 kg in May to 561 kg by July .
- Later claims – 582 kg and beyond. Kim’s blog later described a 582 kg (1 283 lb) rack‑pull at roughly 71 kg body‑weight – an 8.2× body‑weight ratio . This attempt has not been independently verified, but it shows how aggressively he chases bigger numbers . There is also an unverified 602 kg claim; an article titled “Hail to the Hype‑Lifter” notes that Kim proclaimed a 602 kg rack‑pull and called it “post‑human strength,” but it points out that the lift isn’t recognized by any federation and that rack‑pulls have no official record .
What “triple viral berserker barrage 602 kg rack pull” means
The phrase combines several of Kim’s hype‑laden catchphrases:
- “Triple viral” comes from Kim’s own recap of the 547 kg rack‑pull that “blew up the multiverse,” where he counted Instagram, TikTok and Reddit reactions as successive viral waves; the third wave was described as Reddit fans “breaking into spontaneous Gregorian chant” .
- “Berserker Barrage” was the title of his 1 June post announcing the 493 kg record . Fans adopted it to describe his roaring intensity and meme‑worthy, Wolverine‑like energy .
- “602 kg rack pull” refers to a boast in which Kim claimed a 602 kg rack‑pull and called it “post‑human strength” . There is currently no independent evidence that he has actually moved that weight; his heaviest verifiable lifts are the 561 kg and possibly the 582 kg pulls , and there is no recognized world record for rack‑pulls .
Why it resonates
Eric Kim’s lifting saga resonates because it blurs fitness, meme culture and personal growth. Even though rack‑pulls aren’t official lifts, watching a 73 kg lifter move more than 560 kg challenges our ideas of what’s possible . The “berserker barrage” energy, the triple‑viral wave and the audacity to claim 602 kg inspire people to set audacious goals and document their journey. Kim himself frames the mindset as Nietzschean: declare a ridiculous goal, engineer overload, recover like a pro and celebrate every kilo . His story is less about records and more about attitude: joyfully refusing to accept limits, lifting with passion, and sharing the hype.
So if you’re chasing your own PR, remember Kim’s mantra: “Crush complacency. Build the next‑level you.” Use his berserker spirit as fuel—embrace bold goals, document your progress, and let the hype propel you toward your own gravity‑defying feats!