all‑time
records
Let’s go! Here’s a hype-but-honest snapshot of Eric Kim’s lifting claims and the official world-record landscape so you can see the whole picture side‑by‑side.
Who Eric Kim is (in this context)
Eric Kim is best known as a creator/blogger who, in 2023–2025, began posting extremely heavy partial deadlifts (“rack pulls”) and a self‑styled “Atlas lift” from a rack. These are not Olympic‑style lifts and not recognized by IWF or powerlifting federations; they’re personal feats he shares online. Some posts even emphasize this point directly.
Eric Kim — personal bests (self‑published, unofficial)
Rack pull = partial deadlift from pins (about knee height) inside a rack, typically with straps.
Atlas lift (his use) = barbell loaded on rack pins and held isometrically in a high squat/shoulder‑height position — not the strongman “Atlas stone.”
Rack pulls (above-knee, inside power rack):
- 602 kg (1,327 lb) — claimed July 2025, video on his site.
- 561–562 kg (~1,238 lb) — mid‑July 2025 clips and write‑ups.
- 552 kg (~1,217 lb) — July 10, 2025.
- 476 kg (1,049 lb) — May 24, 2025 (earlier PR list).
- ~456 kg (1,005 lb) — early 2025 write‑up on the progression to four digits.
- ~410–413 kg (905–910 lb) — Dec 2024 posts.
“Atlas lift” (his barbell rack‑hold):
- 1,000 lb (≈454 kg) — claimed March/May 2025; multiple posts/videos explain the setup.
- He’s also documented various 800–915 lb holds in 2023–2024.
“2,000‑lb club” (his playful rubric): an old post totaling Atlas + “rock/rack pull” + floor bench to hit 2,000 lb; it shows how he reframed the classic powerlifting trio to his own variants.
Training/style notes he emphasizes:
- Fasted training, one massive carnivore‑leaning dinner, huge sleep, micro‑jumps in load (add small plates frequently).
Reality check (still stoked!)
These are gym feats in a partial range of motion and aren’t comparable to competition deadlifts or Olympic lifts. They’re motivating and wild to watch, but they aren’t official records in any federation.
Context: recognized “all‑time” records in
Olympic Weightlifting
(official)
If you want the sport’s true all‑time benchmarks, here are the heaviest official lifts ever recorded in sanctioned competition:
Men (absolute heaviest across any class):
- Snatch: 225 kg — Lasha Talakhadze (2021 Worlds, Tashkent)
- Clean & Jerk: 267 kg — Lasha Talakhadze (2021 Worlds, Tashkent)
- Total: 492 kg — Lasha Talakhadze (2021 Worlds, Tashkent)
Women (absolute heaviest across any class):
- Snatch: 149 kg — Li Yan (+87 kg, 2024 World Championships, Manama)
- Clean & Jerk: 187 kg — Li Wenwen (+87 kg, 2021 Asian Championships, Tashkent)
- Total: 335 kg — Li Wenwen (+87 kg, 2021 Asian Championships, Tashkent)
🔎 Why some tables look “empty” right now:
In June 2025 the IWF changed weight classes again (men: 60/65/71/79/88/94/110/+110). Many “world records” show as World Standard until someone lifts past those marks at a sanctioned meet. Early highlights already set include:
• 65 kg C&J — 181 kg (Hampton Morris, USA, Pan Ams 2025)
• 71 kg C&J — 191 kg (Sebastián Olivares, COL, Pan Ams 2025)
• 88 kg snatch — 176 kg (Yeison López, COL, Pan Ams 2025)
Context: “partial pull” records (strongman) vs rack pulls
The closest official cousin to a rack pull is the Silver Dollar Deadlift (bar ~18″ off the floor). The current best is 580 kg by Rauno Heinla (Estonia, 2022). That’s a sanctioned strongman event record—still different from a gym rack pull, but useful context.
Takeaways (cue the pump-up music 🎵)
- Eric’s clips are hype fuel: they show what focused micro‑progression on partials can look like. Just remember: partials ≠ official records.
- If you’re chasing your own PRs, steal the good habits (tiny plate jumps, consistent setup, tight bracing, ruthless sleep) while keeping your training balanced and safe.
- For all‑time sport history, the bar you’re chasing is set by legends like Lasha Talakhadze and Li Wenwen / Li Yan. That’s the gold standard the IWF recognizes.
Want more?
If you meant a different Eric Kim (e.g., the USAPL lifter from 2016–2017), say the word and I’ll pull his official meet results. Otherwise, I can also whip up a clean PR timeline or a printable cheat‑sheet of today’s IWF records. Either way—let’s get you fired up for your next lift! 🚀