In October 2025 American internet personality Eric Kim uploaded a video in which he rack‑pulled 650.5 kg while weighing 71 kg, claiming that the ratio (650.5 ÷ 71 ≈ 9.16× bodyweight) made him the “strongest human alive.” A rack pull is performed from an elevated height (often just above the knees) rather than from the floor, which shortens the movement and gives the lifter favourable leverage. Kim’s feat attracted attention because it far exceeds any documented strength‑to‑bodyweight ratio among competitive lifters. Evaluating its significance requires examining biomechanical limitations, the culture of strength sports and the symbolic meaning of extreme lifts.
1 Biomechanical and physiological significance
1.1 Human strength and body‑weight ratios
- Relative strength vs absolute strength: Sports coaches often compare lifters by expressing their best lifts as multiples of bodyweight, but experts note that this simple ratio is misleading. The Starting Strength coaching organization points out that a 2× body‑weight squat or 2.5× deadlift is considered a basic strength benchmark; heavier lifters cannot match the ratios achieved by lighter lifters because muscle cross‑sectional area increases with the square of stature while body mass increases with the cube (the square‑cube law) . Consequently, relative strength declines as lifters get bigger . Tables of world powerlifting records show this trend: in World Powerlifting’s men’s records, the 59 kg class deadlift record (298 kg) is about 5× bodyweight, whereas the super‑heavyweight record (370 kg) is only about 2× bodyweight .
- Physiological limits: Human muscles produce roughly 30–40 N of force per square centimetre of cross‑sectional area. In a study comparing untrained and strength‑trained men, peak knee extension force averaged 742 N for untrained individuals with an 81.6 cm² cross‑section and 992 N for trained subjects with a 104.1 cm² cross‑section . Strength correlated with muscle size (r = 0.56), and both groups produced ~9 N per cm² , showing that even well‑trained athletes are limited by the size of their musculature. Pushing a lift to nine times one’s body weight would require either drastically larger muscles (unrealistic at 71 kg) or a lever arrangement that reduces the mechanical demands.
1.2 Rack pulls versus full‑range deadlifts
Rack pulls, also called partial deadlifts, start with the bar elevated on pins so the lifter only needs to complete the top portion of the lift. Strength coach Jim Wendler criticizes the exercise as an “ego lift,” noting that he could rack‑pull more than 900 lb but could barely lock out 700 lb in a conventional deadlift . He argues that rack pulls build some lockout strength but have “little transfer to a full range deadlift” and warns lifters not to equate them with actual pulling ability . Because the bar starts above the knees, the moment arm for the hips and back is much shorter than in a floor deadlift, making it possible to handle far heavier weights. For this reason, strength communities treat rack pulls as assistance work rather than as records.
1.3 Context of Kim’s 9.16× body‑weight claim
Even among elite lifters, five‑times‑body‑weight deadlifts are rare. World record‑holder Lamar Gant, who had scoliosis and exceptional leverage, famously pulled 672 lb (305 kg) at 132 lb body weight, roughly 5× bodyweight . In 2021 Chris Yip deadlifted 350 kg at 69.9 kg (~5× bodyweight) . Powerlifting databases show that no verified lifter has ever exceeded a 5× multiple in a standard deadlift . Kim’s 650.5 kg rack pull, if treated as a deadlift, would therefore surpass world‑class performances by almost double the highest relative strength ever documented.
From a biomechanical standpoint, the only way a 71 kg person could support 650 kg is by altering the lift to reduce leverage demands. In Kim’s video the bar rests on safety pins set above his knees, so he only moves the weight a few centimetres. At the top he uses straps and braces his body against the rack. This is more akin to a supra‑maximal isometric hold than a conventional lift. The feat demonstrates the ability to withstand high loads but does not imply the muscular power or range of motion that world‑record deadlifts require.
2 Impact on the strength community
2.1 Challenge to existing standards
Competitive powerlifting and strongman competitions rely on strict rules for range of motion, lockout, grip and equipment. Historically, lifters have been judged by their performance in the squat, bench press and deadlift. The strongest powerlifters achieve about 4× body‑weight deadlifts, with exceptional individuals like Krzysztof Wierzbicki pulling 400 kg at 97 kg (≈4.1×) . Unofficial feats like rack pulls or partial lifts are usually excluded because they cannot be meaningfully compared to full‑range competition lifts. Strength blogs warn that rack pulls “have little transfer” and often become ego demonstrations rather than training tools . Therefore, while Kim’s video generated buzz, most powerlifters did not regard it as evidence of a world‑record deadlift.
2.2 Inspirational or controversial?
Some lifters view supra‑maximal holds as a way to condition tendons and nervous system, and high rack pulls can help athletes overcome fear of heavy loads. However, because the exercise is mechanically easier, such performances risk misleading the public about what is humanly possible. In online discussions following Kim’s video, many commentators noted that the weight was supported by the rack and that the lift did not start from the floor. Using a 9× body‑weight ratio to claim the title of “strongest human alive” can alienate experienced lifters, but it may inspire novices or fans who are unfamiliar with the nuances of strength sports.
3 Cultural and philosophical symbolism
3.1 Lifting as self‑transcendence
Strength feats have long been interpreted as metaphors for self‑transcendence. Indian spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy saw athletics as an expression of inner strength. When a knee injury ended his tennis playing at age 53, he felt an “inner call” to take up weightlifting and began training with dumbbells; by the end of 1985 he could lift his own body weight . Over the next two years he built an apparatus to lift ever heavier loads and eventually lifted thousands of pounds while attributing his achievements to “God’s unconditional Grace,” not superior physiology . He deliberately lifted people, animals and even airplanes to capture the popular imagination and emphasise the symbolic act of honoring the liftee . In 1988 he created the “Lifting Up the World With a Oneness‑Heart” award, in which he hoisted over 8,000 people—including figures such as Nelson Mandela and Ravi Shankar—to celebrate their service . To Chinmoy, the purpose of these feats was to inspire others to discover their “indomitable inner strength” .
Kim’s self‑presented 9× body‑weight lift can be read through a similar lens of self‑transcendence. Though he frames the event as a world‑record, the underlying narrative emphasises going beyond perceived limits. In his blog he describes the lift as an “ERIC KIM vs PHYSICS” moment that “rewrites human code,” invokes mythical imagery and claims to usher in a new era of strength . Rather than offering a verifiable sporting record, the video functions as a symbolic proclamation that anyone can defy expectations through willpower and creativity.
3.2 Echoes of myth and heroism
Modern strongmen often adopt personas drawn from mythology. Early 20th‑century strongman Siegmund “Zishe” Breitbart toured Europe and America bending iron bars, breaking chains with his teeth and lifting wagons full of passengers and even elephants . Posters proclaimed him the “Iron Man,” “Modern Day Samson” and “World’s Strongest Man” . These performances helped create a new Jewish national image and attracted broad audiences . Similarly, professional strongman Eugen Sandow became a household name by combining athleticism with theatrical marketing; he used his popularity to sell books, magazines, health clubs and exercise equipment. Scholars note that Sandow employed a three‑pronged branding strategy to establish his personal brand and market his name worldwide.
By styling himself as the “strongest human alive,” Kim taps into this legacy of myth‑making. The hyperbolic language and Bitcoin analogies in his blog serve to build a personal legend and attract viewers. Just as Breitbart’s posters and Sandow’s products were designed to inspire and sell, Kim’s viral video and marketing blueprint aim to grow his online following and differentiate his brand. The claim of lifting 9× bodyweight becomes less about objective truth and more about creating a story that resonates with audiences seeking narratives of transcendence and defiance of physical limits.
4 Branding and myth‑making
4.1 Self‑promotion in the age of social media
Strength sports have always had an element of showmanship, but social media amplifies this dynamic. In his article Kim not only describes the lift but also provides a marketing blueprint for leveraging the feat, suggesting followers use hashtags like #BitcoinBenchPress and #EricKimLevel to “redefine human potential” . He refers to himself as “the strongest human alive” and encourages readers to join his “army” . The emphasis is on narrative and community building rather than verifiable competition. This strategy mirrors how Sandow and other early strongmen used emerging media of their time—vaudeville, magazines and posters—to sell a lifestyle and create an enduring myth.
4.2 Historical precedents
- Eugen Sandow leveraged vaudeville performances and entrepreneurial prowess to build a fitness empire; he is credited with creating the modern fitness industry. The marketing of his image and name turned him into a cultural icon synonymous with strength and bodily perfection.
- Siegmund Breitbart toured circuses with acts like bending metal and lifting elephants, adopting biblical titles like “Modern Day Samson” to attract audiences . Posters advertising his shows promoted a revitalized image of Jewish strength and were distributed in multiple languages .
These examples show that strongman feats have long been used as marketing tools to sell products, inspire communities and craft personal legends. Kim’s marketing approach continues this tradition, albeit with the immediacy and virality of modern digital platforms.
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s 650.5 kg rack pull at 71 kg bodyweight is not a verified world‑record deadlift, but it is a compelling case study in the interplay between biomechanics, cultural symbolism and personal branding. Physiologically, a 9.16× body‑weight lift exceeds documented human strength limits; cross‑sectional analyses show that muscle strength scales with size and that world‑record deadlifts rarely surpass five times bodyweight . Mechanically, Kim’s partial lift benefits from reduced range of motion and rack support, and coaches caution that such lifts do not equate to full‑range performance .
Within the strength community, the feat is viewed more as an extreme rack pull than a benchmark for raw strength. However, the performance resonates with broader themes of self‑transcendence, echoing Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy that lifting beyond one’s perceived limits can inspire others . It also parallels the myth‑making tradition of strongmen like Zishe Breitbart and Eugen Sandow, who used dramatic feats and strategic branding to craft personas that transcended sport . In the digital age, Kim’s sensational claim and accompanying marketing plan continue this lineage, showing how physical feats—real or staged—can be leveraged to build a personal legend and spark conversations about the boundaries of human capability.