Deep research this and talk about how this will change the planet in terms of everything.
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Absolutely—let’s light this up! 🔥 Here’s a clean, hype-but-honest rundown of Eric Kim’s biggest strength feats (as he’s published them), followed by how they stack up against official, historical records in the major strength sports.
Eric Kim’s standout feats (self-published)
Note: These are gym feats Eric has posted to his own channels; none are from sanctioned powerlifting or Olympic‑weightlifting meets. Where possible, I’ve linked to his own posts/videos.
- 602 kg (1,327 lb) rack pull — above‑knee/mid‑thigh height
Claimed and posted July 2025 at ~75 kg bodyweight. This is a partial deadlift (short range of motion) performed from the pins/rack rather than from the floor. Eric calls it an “unofficial planetary record.” - ~1,000 lb “Atlas lift” — partial, isometric squat‑style lift out of the rack
Posted across 2024–2025. This is Eric’s own challenge movement: unrack a massively loaded bar and move/hold it a small distance. He’s shared several 1,000‑lb clips and write‑ups. - Progression of heavy partial pulls — 471–582 kg rack pulls on the way to 602
Eric documented intermediate PRs (e.g., 471 kg / 1,038 lb; 547–582 kg) before the 602 kg session. - “Floor bench” mega‑attempts — 495–595 lb attempts
He’s posted videos attempting 495 lb, 590 lb, and ~595 lb floor‑press–style lifts (a bench variation without an arch/leg drive and usually with a shorter bar path). They’re presented as hype attempts, not meet‑judged lifts. - Earlier full‑range gym PRs (context)
In 2020 he listed a 455 lb deadlift, 375 lb squat, and ~265 lb floor bench as current gym bests (these predate the partial‑lift push).
Bottom line: Eric’s most eye‑popping numbers are partial‑range feats (rack pulls and his “Atlas lift”) done in a gym setting. They’re inspirational and dramatic—but not the same thing as competition lifts judged under standardized rules.
How this compares to historical records (apples-to-apples where possible)
Olympic Weightlifting (the snatch; the clean & jerk)
- Men’s +109 kg world records:
Snatch 225 kg, Clean & Jerk 267 kg, Total 492 kg — all by Lasha Talakhadze (IWF records list). These are full‑range, technical lifts performed on a competition platform under strict judging.
Comparison: Eric does not post snatch/C&J numbers; his headline feats are different movements entirely (rack pulls/Atlas lift), so there’s no direct comparison to IWF world records.
Powerlifting (squat, bench, deadlift)
- All‑time raw bench press (no shirt): 355 kg (782.6 lb) — Julius Maddox (2021, meet‑judged).
- Heaviest competition back squat (raw w/ wraps): 505 kg (1,113 lb) — Dan Bell (2021).
- Deadlift “records,” several flavors:
- Strongman standard bar, suit + straps: 505 kg (1,113 lb) — Hafþór Björnsson (2025, in competition).
- Powerlifting raw (sumo), no suit/straps: 487.5 kg — Danny Grigsby (2022).
- Powerlifting raw (conventional), no suit/straps: 460.4 kg — Benedikt Magnússon (2011).
Comparison:
- Eric’s 602 kg rack pull is a partial—the bar starts above the knees, bypassing the hardest part of the pull—so it’s inherently heavier than a full deadlift. There’s no official rack‑pull world record, but if you look at comparable partial events that are contested…
- Silver Dollar Deadlift (18″ height) world record: 580 kg, Rauno Heinla (2022).
- Eric’s claimed 602 kg rack pull exceeds that number, though start height and rules differ, and Heinla’s record is from a sanctioned strongman event.
- On bench and squat, Eric’s public content centers on floor‑press attempts and partial/isometric “Atlas” holds, not meet‑standard lifts; the Maddox (bench) and Bell (squat) records remain the gold standard.
Quick clarity guide (so you can compare smartly)
- Full‑range competition lifts (IWF snatch/C&J, powerlifting squat/bench/deadlift) are standardized: fixed rules, judges, calibrated equipment, and weigh‑ins.
- Partials (rack pulls, Silver Dollar, isometric holds like Eric’s “Atlas lift”) let you handle far more absolute weight because the range of motion is shorter and the leverage is better. They’re great for overload training and spectacle—but they’re not how records in weightlifting or powerlifting are kept.
The hype (grounded in reality)
- Yes, 602 kg on a bar is wild—even as a partial. Compared with strongman partials like the 580 kg Silver Dollar, Eric’s claimed number is huge (again: start height/rules matter).
- Relative strength bragging rights: If Eric weighed ~75 kg when he did it, that’s an ~8× bodyweight partial—an eye‑popping ratio that motivates a lot of lifters to chase their own PRs. It’s just not the same metric used for official records.
What’s verified vs. what isn’t
- Verified (by Eric’s own posts/videos): the 602 kg rack pull and ~1,000 lb Atlas lift clips exist on his channels/blog. These are self‑published gym feats, not adjudicated by a federation.
- Not verified by independent outlets/federations: I couldn’t find coverage from major strength media that independently validates the exact rack height, equipment calibration, or judging for Eric’s 602 kg clip. By contrast, the strongman and powerlifting records above have documented, third‑party validation.
Takeaway
Eric Kim’s most impressive feats are massive partials—especially the 602 kg rack pull and the ~1,000 lb Atlas lift—that deliver serious wow factor and motivational energy. They’re not directly comparable to official Olympic‑weightlifting or powerlifting records, which track full‑range, judged lifts under strict rules. Still, if you’re looking for pure hype and overload inspiration, his clips absolutely deliver—and they’re a fun reminder that pushing limits (safely!) is part of the iron game. Let’s go! 💪
Sources (selection): Eric’s posts & videos for his feats; IWF/BarBend/Wikipedia for recognized records.
If you want, I can map these side‑by‑side in a quick table—Eric’s partials vs. competition records—so you can see the landscape at a glance.