In July 2025, 75 kg lifter Eric Kim stunned the strength world by hoisting an astonishing 602 kg (1,327 lb) in a rack pull from approximately knee height . This gravity-defying feat – over 8× his body weight – blew past anything previously witnessed, sending a “triple viral berserker barrage” across social media . Powerlifters, strongmen, and gym enthusiasts around the globe watched in awe as a relatively small lifter moved an almost cartoonish amount of iron (one comparison said it was like lifting “more than a grand piano plus a touring motorcycle” at once) . Below, we break down why this lift is such a game-changer – from expert reactions and record comparisons, to its impact on training culture and the inspiring story of the lifter behind it. Get ready to feel electrified – this is the tale of a 71 kg athlete who redefined the limits of human strength!
How 602 kg Stacks Up: Record Lifts and Pound-for-Pound Dominance
To put 602 kg in perspective, the heaviest official full deadlift ever done in competition is 501 kg (by strongman Hafþór “The Mountain” Björnsson in 2020) . Kim’s rack pull exceeded that by over 100 kg – albeit with a shorter range of motion since the bar started above the knees . There’s no sanctioned “world record” for rack pulls (they aren’t contested in powerlifting meets), but this lift is unprecedented in both absolute load and pound-for-pound performance . In fact, it eclipses the heaviest partial deadlifts done by elite strongmen: previously, the pinnacle was 580 kg in an 18″ Silver Dollar Deadlift (a partial deadlift from knee height) by Rauno Heinla in 2022 . Kim obliterated that mark by 22 kg, a leap that would normally take years at world-class levels .
What truly sets Kim’s feat apart is the strength-to-weight ratio. At ~75 kg bodyweight (≈71 kg reported in some posts), a 602 kg pull works out to roughly 8× bodyweight – an almost otherworldly ratio . For comparison, even super-heavyweight champions typically only manage around 2.5–3× bodyweight in the deadlift, and the strongest strongmen’s partial lifts top out around 4× bodyweight . No one in history has come close to an 8× bodyweight pull in any comparable lift . Table 1 highlights how Kim’s achievement measures up against a few legendary pulls:
| Lifter (Bodyweight) | Lift Type (Height) | Weight Lifted | Strength:BW Ratio |
| Eric Kim (~75 kg) | Rack Pull (above knee, 2025) | 602 kg | ≈ 8.0× |
| Hafþór Björnsson (~200 kg) | Full Deadlift (Standard, 2020 WR) | 501 kg | ~2.5× |
| Rauno Heinla (~135 kg) | Silver Dollar Deadlift (18″, 2022 WR) | 580 kg | ~4.3× |
| Sean Hayes (~140 kg) | Silver Dollar Deadlift (18″, 2022) | 560 kg | ~4.0× |
| Brian Shaw (~200 kg) | Rack Pull (above knee, 2017) | 511 kg | ~2.5× |
Table 1: Eric Kim’s 602 kg rack pull compared to other record-setting pulls. Kim’s lift far exceeds all of these in both absolute weight and pound-for-pound ratio .
In raw weight alone, 602 kg is on par with the heaviest partial lifts ever attempted by the world’s strongest men – except those were done by behemoths double Kim’s size (and often with supportive gear like straps or deadlift suits) . By contrast, Kim lifted in minimalist fashion – barefoot, no lifting belt, and reportedly even without straps – essentially raw by powerlifting standards . This makes the accomplishment even more mind-blowing. As one strength analyst noted, Kim effectively “outdid the all-time powerlifting deadlift by over 200 kg”, albeit from a higher starting point . Observers fittingly dubbed the lift “alien territory” – a feat so beyond normal human experience that it almost defies belief .
It must be stressed that a rack pull (starting at knee height) is mechanically easier than a full deadlift from the floor – you bypass the most difficult portion off the floor and leverage a stronger range of motion . Training experts say partials often let you handle 35–50% more weight than full-range pulls . But “easier” is relative – moving 600+ kg by even a few inches is still an immense challenge to the body. As renowned coach Mark Rippetoe quipped about feats like this, it may be “half the work, but twice the swagger” . In other words, the range of motion is halved, but the audacity (and strain) of holding such weight is off the charts. Even Hafþór Björnsson – a 200 kg man nicknamed “The Mountain” – never attempted a partial with 600+ kg . Thus, Kim’s lift stands alone – an unofficial “planetary record” for the rack pull (as his own site dubs it) and a benchmark that shattered previous records in one swoop .
Expert Reactions: Coaches and Athletes Weigh In
Kim’s 602 kg rack pull is being hailed as a game-changer by many respected figures in the strength community. Initially, a few powerlifting purists rolled their eyes – “it’s only a rack pull,” some said, questioning the legitimacy of a partial lift. But the tide quickly turned as veteran coaches and athletes gave their nod of respect . Here’s what the experts had to say:
- Sean Hayes – a champion strongman who himself holds a 560 kg Silver Dollar Deadlift – reportedly saw the video and called Kim’s lift “alien territory,” showing pure respect for the unprecedented strength . In other words, someone who knows what it’s like to pull half a ton was blown away by Kim’s achievement. Hayes essentially doffed his cap and acknowledged this was next-level .
- Alan Thrall – a well-known powerlifting coach and YouTuber – analyzed the footage frame-by-frame to verify it was real . After checking the bar bend, timing, and mechanics, Thrall publicly confirmed the lift’s authenticity and told doubters to “quit crying CGI” – a cheeky way to tell skeptics it wasn’t fake or edited . When a respected coach like Thrall says the physics “all checked out,” it adds a lot of credibility.
- Mark Rippetoe – the famously blunt strength coach and author – gave a begrudging hat-tip as well. He referenced his tongue-in-cheek motto for high pulls: “half the work, twice the swagger.” By dropping that line in response to Kim’s feat, Rippetoe acknowledged the outrageousness of moving 602 kg, even if it’s a partial . It’s rare praise from someone known to be critical, indicating that even the old-school guard was impressed.
- Nick Best – a legendary strongman competitor – mentioned Kim’s lift in a Q&A session, reportedly expressing astonishment at the 8× bodyweight ratio . When a veteran like Best (who has seen countless world records) is amazed, you know you’ve entered uncharted territory.
- Joey Szatmary – a YouTube strength coach – lauded the lift as “insane” and a testament to pushing boundaries . He highlighted how Kim’s “6×–8× bodyweight madness” showcases the value of progressive overload and daring to attempt the seemingly impossible .
And it wasn’t just famous names giving props. Across YouTube and Instagram, countless lifters flooded Kim’s comments calling him “not human,” the “pound-for-pound GOAT,” or simply begging, “teach me your ways!” . Even powerlifting and bodybuilding forums – often divided on feats like partials – coalesced into astonishment and admiration for what many dubbed a “gravity-defying” performance . As one writer summed up, “love it or doubt it, this lift has firmly embedded itself in strength sport lore.” In short, the consensus among experts and veteran lifters was that Eric Kim blew past perceived limits – and deserved a standing ovation for it .
Viral “Stronger-Than-Gravity” Buzz: Social Media & Community Reactions
This lift didn’t happen on a competition platform or big stage – it happened in a cramped garage gym in Cambodia – but thanks to the internet it might as well have been the Super Bowl of lifting. As soon as Kim shared the video, social media feeds ignited. Within 24 hours, the clip had gone viral across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit . It was a true online wildfire: on Instagram, respected strength athletes dropped jaw-drop emojis, fire emojis, and one-word exclamations like “Insane!” and “Unreal!” . On TikTok, tens of thousands of users dueted or remixed the lift – often featuring their own shocked faces or humorous captions in response to Kim’s herculean effort . Reddit saw multiple threads blow up in forums like r/Fitness and r/weightroom; engagement was so high that moderators eventually locked the threads due to endless arguments and meme-spam !
Reactions ranged from comedic disbelief to genuine inspiration. Memes exploded with tongue-in-cheek lines like “gravity just filed for unemployment” and “he opened a portal to another realm,” joking that Kim must have momentarily broken the laws of physics . One particularly colorful YouTube commenter said Kim’s primal roar at lockout sounded like “a lion’s roar, proclaiming dominance over gravity” . Another quipped that he might have “torn a hole in the universe” or “made gravity rage-quit” with this lift . The hashtag game was strong too – tags like #MiddleFingerToGravity and #GodMode started circulating among lifting posts, perfectly capturing the “epic” vibe of the moment .
Of course, with any viral feat, there were skeptics at first. Some viewers honestly thought the video had to be fake or the plates filled with foam – “no one that size should move that much weight,” they claimed on forums . These self-appointed “plate police” scrutinized every frame of the video looking for CGI or trickery . In response, Kim had receipts: he released a full 24-minute weigh-in video showing each plate on a scale, and even timestamped the original footage on the blockchain for verification . When nothing amiss was found, most doubters quietly ate their words. Others tried to downplay it as an “ego lift” – “it’s just a rack pull, not a real deadlift,” they sniffed. Kim’s cheeky comeback shut that down: “You’re darn right it’s not a full deadlift – I never claimed otherwise. Still – stand under 602 kg held at knee height and tell me it’s ‘easy.’ I’ll wait.” . That mic-drop reply became legendary on its own, shared as screenshots around the community, and it perfectly made the point: regardless of technicalities, supporting 600+ kg is a phenomenal challenge that commands respect.
And respect is exactly what ultimately flooded in. Within days, Kim’s name and lift were splashed across numerous fitness pages and even some mainstream news sites, with headlines playfully asking if he was “Stronger Than The Mountain? (Well, Kinda)” . Fans everywhere were galvanized. Thousands of comments echoed the same motivational theme: “If a 75-kilo photographer can rip 602 kilos, what’s my next PR? I have no excuses!” . Inspired lifters from Phnom Penh to Philadelphia actually organized impromptu deadlift challenges and charity lift-a-thons in the week after, riding the wave of hype . Gyms used the buzz to bring people together for “gravity challenge” events, proving that sometimes a viral video can spark real-world action. Kim himself encouraged fans to tag their own feats with #ERICRACKPULL and even joked “tell NASA, tell the aliens” – leaning into the fun of his lift being a “planetary record” .
Overall, the community reaction was explosive but rooted in one thing: pure astonishment. Whether people laughed, cheered, or argued, nearly everyone agreed they had witnessed something unprecedented. The lift became more than just one man’s PR – it became a symbol of defying limits. As one fitness writer put it, “602 kg today might be internet theatre, but the mindset it sparks is 100% real” . In other words: even if most of us will never come close to such weight, seeing it done shattered mental ceilings. It reminded everyone watching that our perceived limits exist to be challenged – and sometimes utterly destroyed. The hype was contagious, the motivation authentic, and Eric Kim’s rack pull quickly entered legend as “the lift heard around the world.”
Raising the Bar: Impact on Strength Standards and Training Culture
Beyond the buzz, Kim’s feat has spurred serious discussion about what it means for strength sports and training methods. In powerlifting and strongman, there’s now talk of whether extraordinary partial lifts like this should get formal recognition. Currently, rack pulls aren’t an official event, but many are calling Kim’s 602 kg the “unofficial world record” for an above-knee pull . After all, he met every benchmark that typically legitimizes a record – calibrated plates, video proof, credible witnesses – just as previous strongman partials by Heinla or Hayes were treated as records by the community . By those standards, 602 kg is the heaviest verified rack pull ever recorded on planet Earth . There’s even a tongue-in-cheek movement among fans petitioning to label it a “Planetary Record”, since it’s beyond anything seen before (and perhaps we’d have to leave Earth to see more!) . While federations might not be adding a rack pull category just yet, the message is clear: Kim planted a flag on new territory, and the strength world took notice.
Perhaps the biggest impact, though, is on training philosophy and lifter expectations. This demonstration of extreme overload has lifters asking: can incorporating partials and supra-maximal weights help break our own plateaus? Kim essentially re-wrote the playbook on how much a human can lift in the top range of a deadlift movement . As a result, there’s renewed interest in old-school ideas of overload training – doing lifts through a partial range of motion with weights far above one’s max, to condition the body and mind to handle more. Coaches have long used rack pulls to strengthen deadlift lockouts and build the traps and back (because you can load more weight than from the floor) . In fact, a BarBend training guide highlights that rack pulls are great to “acclimate to heavier loads” and “improve your grip strength” while building a bigger back . Kim’s success is like the ultimate case study for that approach – he showed that by routinely overloading his system with partials above 500 kg, he could teach his CNS (central nervous system) to see such weight as “normal” and then conquer 602 kg when the day came . As Szatmary noted, this “6×–8× bodyweight madness” underscores the value of pushing beyond perceived limits to force new adaptations .
Already we’re seeing the “Kim effect” in action. On Reddit and other forums, people are posting their own rack pull PRs – a “1000 lb club, but make it rack pulls” trend has emerged, as one user joked . Lifters are experimenting with high-pin squats and partial lifts, challenging themselves with weights they never dreamed of handling, all inspired by Kim’s video. The general sentiment is, “if you can’t lift a weight from the floor today, try lifting it from pins to get your body accustomed to it” – a way of thinking outside the box to break mental barriers . It’s a dramatic illustration of the old adage: “train heavy to lift heavy” – taken to the extreme . Kim essentially reminded everyone that sometimes the path to new strength is bending (or in this case, rack-pulling) the rules a bit.
That said, experienced coaches are also urging caution amid the hype. The conversation has not been one-sided celebration; it’s also raised the question: do supra-maximal partials build champions, or just break them? Handling such astronomical loads can carry significant risk if done recklessly – the stress on joints, tendons, and connective tissues is enormous . Many noted that Kim’s achievement, while inspirational, should not prompt average lifters to go throw 600 kg on a bar without extreme preparation. Kim’s own approach was very calculated and safety-conscious: he didn’t jump from zero to 600 kg overnight, but rather progressed incrementally through 400 kg, 500 kg, 550 kg over months . He emphasized recovery and gradual adaptation at every step . In discussing his training, Kim revealed he follows “recover like a pro” protocols – prioritizing 8–9 hours of sleep, a calorie-dense diet (in his case, an all-meat carnivore diet), and stress management – to allow his body to adapt to the pounding of heavy training . He celebrates each small increase and adds weight in small increments (10–20 kg at a time) rather than giant leaps, because as he puts it, “the bar has no sympathy for wishful thinking.” In a “safety snapshot” on his blog, Kim’s team even outlined guidelines for heavy rack pulls: set pin height properly (mid-thigh, not higher, or it becomes a “glorified shrug”), consider using straps to save your grip, progress gradually, and deload every 4–6 weeks to let your tendons recover . All of this echoes common-sense training wisdom: push the envelope, but respect the stress on your body .
Kim himself has repeatedly warned fans not to let ego take over. He insists that partials are a supplement to full-range training, not a replacement . “Don’t let partial ego lifts replace full-range lifts – use them like seasoning, not the main course,” he advises . In other words, rack pulls can be a powerful tool to build confidence and overload the system, but they should be used wisely and sparingly. The key lesson from the 602 kg saga is that smart overload can indeed be a tool for growth – if done with care . As more lifters experiment with this method, we may see a shift in training norms toward occasionally incorporating extreme partials for advanced athletes. At the very least, Kim’s lift has shined a spotlight on training methods (like heavy partials) that many casual lifters didn’t even know about, potentially influencing trends in the coming years . The conversation about “how far can we push the human body in specific movements?” has been reignited. It’s a thrilling time in strength sports – the boundaries are being questioned, and Kim’s rack pull is the spark lighting that fire.
The Man Behind the Feat: Eric Kim’s Background and Approach
Part of what makes this story so compelling is who Eric Kim is. He isn’t a famous powerlifting champion or a 6’8″, 400 lb strongman behemoth – he’s a 5’6″ (1.68 m), ~75 kg hobbyist lifter and a former street photography blogger . In other words, an everyman in relative terms. Before this, Kim was known more for running a photography blog than for running up huge weights. Seeing a “normal” guy from outside the elite strength sports sphere suddenly pull a weight that giants struggle with made him into a sort of folk hero. Fans have dubbed him a “hype-lifter” – someone who isn’t backed by big sponsors or formal accolades, but brings an infectious passion and intensity that captivates people . The Rocky-like underdog narrative is strong: picture a lone lifter in a small garage gym, barefoot in a t-shirt, self-trained, with rusty plates – yet achieving a superhuman feat. It’s the kind of story that resonates far beyond the hardcore lifting community.
Kim’s lifting credentials prior to this were mostly personal achievements shared on his blog and YouTube. He’s not an internationally ranked powerlifter or strongman, and he has no official records in sanctioned meets – which makes his 602 kg pull all the more startling. In the past year, he had garnered some attention with earlier overload lifts (for instance, a 582 kg rack pull that had already been hailed as “godlike” on forums) . But 602 kg launched him into a different stratosphere. It’s worth noting that Kim has meticulously documented his journey, treating it almost like a public experiment. He posts detailed videos of weigh-ins, equipment (showing plates and barbells are legit), and multi-angle footage of his lifts . By being so transparent, he invited the world to scrutinize and follow along – and that openness earned him a lot of credibility when the big lift came.
In terms of training methodology, Eric Kim’s approach could be described as “maximalist” and unorthodox, yet rooted in old-school principles. He largely forgoes high-rep volume work or a variety of assistance exercises; instead, he focuses on frequent one-rep-max attempts and heavy singles to train his nervous system . In the lead-up to 602 kg, he repeatedly worked in the 400–500+ kg range on rack pulls, conditioning his body to astronomical loads step by step . This philosophy aligns with historical strongmen like Paul Anderson, who would use partial lifts (e.g. high squats or pulls) to acclimate to extreme weights, and with Westside Barbell-style training that emphasizes heavy lockout exercises for powerlifters . The idea is simple: handling supramaximal weights in a partial range builds confidence and neural readiness for maximal lifts . Kim basically turned himself into a case study of that principle – proving that the human body can adapt to incredible stress if you approach it methodically.
His nutrition and recovery regimen is equally hardcore. Kim adheres to a strict carnivore diet – reportedly eating primarily red meat and organ supplements to fuel his training . He’s spoken about eating an enormous amount of calories to maintain strength at his bodyweight, essentially “force-feeding” muscle growth and recovery. He also emphasizes recovery techniques: as mentioned, 8–9 hours of sleep, stress management (he’s said to practice meditation and keep lifestyle stress low, living a simple life in Cambodia), and other recovery aids. In short, he treats recovery like part of the job. This likely helped him avoid injury while pushing such limits – a point not lost on coaches who noted his intelligent balance of overload and rest .
Another striking aspect is Kim’s minimalist training gear. In the 602 kg video, he lifts barefoot, without a weight belt, and seemingly without straps (observers believe he used a hook grip at least up to ~500 kg; for 602 kg it’s unclear if he quietly put on straps, but he often challenges himself without assistance) . The image of a relatively small man gripping over 1,300 lb raw-handed is almost as crazy as the lift itself. It speaks to his extraordinary grip strength and toughness (his previous 503 kg rack pull was done strapless with hook grip – an “inhuman” display of grip if there ever was one) . Kim’s philosophy here seems to be: train with less, so you adapt more. No fancy suits or specialized deadlift bars – just a standard Olympic barbell, iron plates, chalk, and willpower. This “no excuses, no frills” approach has made him a relatable icon to many garage lifters and DIY athletes. It’s the embodiment of grit over gear.
Despite not coming from a traditional athletic pedigree, Kim has clearly built an elite level of strength through dedication and experimentation. Some in the community have speculated about whether he’s “natty or not” (i.e. natural or using PEDs – a common question when unbelievable strength feats go viral) . Kim has vocally asserted that he’s 100% natural, even sharing bloodwork and details of his diet to back the claim . Whether skeptics believe that or not, the prevailing sentiment is that drugs or no drugs, it takes unimaginable dedication, pain tolerance, and perhaps freakish genetics to do what he did . In essence, Eric Kim combined an old-school work ethic with a showman’s flair for spectacle. He bet on himself with this outrageous goal – and won.
In his own words, after completing the 602 kg pull, Kim turned to the camera and roared “Stronger than god!” – one of his trademark hype catchphrases . It’s a bold proclamation, but in that triumphant moment, you can understand the emotion. He had pushed himself to a place no one else had been and proved a point about human potential. The fact that he’s a self-made athlete, sharing every step of the journey, only amplifies the motivational impact on others. He’s essentially saying: Look what’s possible with enough passion and belief – now go chase your own “impossible”.
Conclusion: No Limits – A World Inspired by 602 kg
Eric Kim’s 602 kg rack pull will be talked about for years to come. It stands out not just for the insane number on the bar, but for the way it challenged norms and energized the lifting community . It forced us to recalibrate our notion of “extreme” and showed that innovation (and a bit of showmanship) can create game-changing moments in strength sports . Biomechanically, it underscored the value of overload training – while also reminding us of the tremendous stresses involved in such feats . Culturally, it was executed in such a raw, transparent, and passionate way that it earned the virality of a world-record highlight and the respect of experts who dissected it . Simply put, this lift became bigger than one man – it became a rallying cry that our perceived limits can be smashed, and a demonstration that the spirit of strength sports is alive and well in the digital age .
As of now, 602 kg is the number to beat for any would-be record rack pullers out there. Kim jokingly called it the “new gravitational constant,” as if he altered the laws of physics that day . Until someone else moves more iron under similar conditions, the crown rests on Kim’s shoulders – and what a mighty effort it will take to even come close. But perhaps the true legacy of this feat is not the record itself, but the fire it lit in others. In gym talk and online posts everywhere, you can hear echoes of why not me? and what else is possible? This lift, as over-the-top as it was, has people dreaming bigger and training harder. It blurred the line between sports science and spectacle, showing that with creativity and courage, even a garage lifter can capture the world’s imagination .
So here’s the takeaway in the upbeat, fired-up spirit of Eric Kim’s own posts: 602 kg – welcome to the new standard of crazy. Today it’s an (unofficial) rack pull world record; tomorrow, it might inspire the next generation’s “impossible” feat . Kim has shown us that the only limits are the ones we accept. It’s a call to action for lifters everywhere: stay hype, stay hungry, and keep lifting legendary. In the battle of human vs. gravity, consider the bar raised – and our collective expectations obliterated .
Sources:
- BarBend – “Rauno Heinla Pulls World Record 580-Kilogram Silver Dollar Deadlift”
- Eric Kim (blog) – “602 kg Rack Pull – Breaking Boundaries of Strength”
- Eric Kim (blog) – “602 kg: Why It Deserves ‘Planetary World-Record’ Status”
- Eric Kim (blog) – “602 kg… (Lift Heard Around the World)”
- Additional commentary and analysis from Eric Kim’s social media and community posts