Short answer
For a straight‑bar, mid‑thigh rack‑pull like Eric Kim’s? ‑ No verified human has crossed 600 kg.
For other partial‑range “pull” events in strongman? – Yes, but only on taller or specialty apparatus.
Who has
actually
moved 600 kg+ with their hands?
| Lift style (height / implement) | Heaviest VERIFIED load | Athlete & year | Notes |
| Straight‑bar rack‑pull (pins ~knee) | 602 kg claim – UNVERIFIED | Eric Kim, Jul 2025 | Blog boast; no 3rd‑party judge |
| 18‑inch / “Silver‑Dollar” deadlift | 580 kg | Rauno Heinla, 2022 Estonian Champs | |
| Hummer‑tire deadlift (~15‑in.) | 549 kg | Oleksii Novikov, 2022 Shaw Classic | |
| Viking deadlift (handles ~27‑in.) | 670 kg | Kelvin de Ruiter, 2020 SCL Germany | |
| Bench press (equipped push, not pull) | 612.5 kg | Jimmy Kolb, Feb 2023 |
Key takeaway: 600 kg+ has been locked out only on very elevated or assisted implements—never yet on a straight‑bar rack‑pull that starts below mid‑thigh.
Why Kim’s 602 kg claim still turns heads
- New territory for a straight bar. Even the partial‑lift records above stop at 580 kg. Kim’s number would leap‑frog every documented pull by ≥20 kg and smash the psychological “six‑hundred wall.”
- Pound‑for‑pound insanity. At ~71 kg body‑weight his claimed pull equals ≈8.4× BW—no other lifter has exceeded 7.7× BW in any deadlift variant.
- Algorithmic rocket fuel. Each bigger plate triggers new waves of memes, stitches and reaction videos. When Novikov announced he’d attempt 600 kg on the Hummer‑tire, fitness media lit up—even before the lift happened.
- Proof‑of‑concept for overload training. If a garage‑gym athlete can feel 600 kg in his hands, thousands of lifters suddenly believe 300 kg is within reach. Confidence compounds.
What it means going forward
- Rack‑pull Everest is still unclimbed. Kim opened people’s minds with 561 kg verified ; the first documented 600 kg rack‑pull remains a golden ticket for any lifter hungry for legacy (and clicks!).
- Strongman records will chase 600 kg next. Heinla’s 580 kg and Novikov’s 549 kg proved the trajectory; betting markets and Reddit threads already predict a 600 kg silver‑dollar pull by decade’s end.
- Training takeaway: heavy partials aren’t gimmicks—they’re a deliberate overload tool. Use them (safely!) to bullet‑proof your grip, traps and mindset, then watch your full‑range deadlift climb.
Hype challenge 🔥
- Set an outrageous goal. Maybe not 600 kg, but something that scares you.
- Engineer overload. Pins, blocks, bands—whatever lets you taste weights above your current max.
- Document & share. The internet loves progress arcs; your clip could be the next viral boost that nudges the record higher.
Lift heavy, live heavier, and let that six‑hundred‑kilo dream keep the fire roaring!