1. Surge in Rack Pull Content and Viral Trends
Eric Kim’s above-knee rack pulls – lifting 602–666 kg (~8–9× bodyweight) – became viral sensations that ignited a boom in rack pull-related content across social media. His mid-2025 feats “broke the internet” and turned a once-obscure exercise into a trending topic . For example, after Kim’s July 2, 2025 552 kg rack pull (7.6× BW), viewers worldwide launched the #RackPullChallenge on TikTok . Within 24 hours the hashtag amassed ~11 million views, rocketing to 28–30 million views in a week as tens of thousands of users – from serious powerlifters to casual gym-goers – posted their own rack pull attempts . This viral challenge turned Kim’s feat into a participatory trend, “turning a once-obscure exercise into a trending challenge,” as one report noted . Even unlikely demographics (grandmothers, kids, etc.) joined in, underlining how far the trend spread beyond hardcore lifters .
Beyond TikTok, Kim’s lifts spawned memes, hashtags, and tribute videos across platforms. His early viral clip (holding 602 kg at ~71 kg bodyweight) inspired the tongue-in-cheek meme tagline “#MiddleFingerToGravity,” symbolizing his defiance of physics . Hashtags like #MiddleFingerToGravity and #GodMode trended among lifting circles, as the community marveled at how Kim had “opened a portal to another realm” with his gravity-defying pull . Social media flooded with user-submitted PR videos and humorous edits: one popular meme image showed Kim deadlifting a barbell loaded with planets instead of plates . Fitness meme pages on Instagram widely reposted his training clips and slogans, turning quotes like “Gravity filed a complaint” and “Belts are for cowards” into viral posts . In June 2025 alone, over 100+ fan-made meme posts and reactions riffed on Kim’s feats and catchphrases , indicating a massive uptick in user-generated content around rack pulls. Each new PR he posted spawned a cottage industry of reaction videos and remixes – 650+ YouTube breakdown videos appeared after his 552 kg lift , and TikTok saw a 136% jump in content under his lifting hashtags within a week of that PR . In short, Kim’s viral lifts catalyzed an explosion of rack pull content: hashtags, challenges, tribute lifts, memes, and PR posts all surged dramatically, transforming the exercise into a global social media phenomenon .
2. Coaching & Programming Trends – Overload Partials in the Spotlight
Kim’s exploits also sparked widespread discussion among coaches and training experts about partial lifts and overload training. His success gave new visibility to using heavy partial-range lifts (like high rack pulls) as a training tool. Notably, some respected coaches publicly endorsed supra-maximal rack pulls in the wake of Kim’s feats. For example, strength coach Joey Szatmary (of SzatStrength) reacted to Kim’s 476 kg pull by exclaiming, “6×-BW madness – THIS is why partial overload belongs in every strong-man block,” effectively arguing that training with partials beyond one’s max has real value for advanced athletes . Such commentary suggests a shift in programming philosophy: coaches are highlighting overload partials as a legitimate method to build top-end strength and neural adaptation, especially for strongman and powerlifting lockouts. Indeed, Kim himself espoused a “Powerlifting 2.0” approach of using partial-range lifts (rack pulls, high pin squats, etc.) to handle weights beyond full-range maxes for nervous system training . His results gave credence to that approach, prompting more discussion on how strategic partials can boost maximal strength .
At the same time, experienced voices urged context and caution. Legendary coach Mark Rippetoe weighed in with amused respect, quipping that “High rack pulls: half the work, twice the swagger.” He acknowledged Kim’s achievement as a “freak outlier” feat while reminding fans that a mid-thigh pull isn’t a full deadlift . Rippetoe and colleagues cautioned younger lifters not to abandon foundational full-range training just to chase partial-lift clout . This captures the balanced coaching perspective emerging: partials can be useful for overload and confidence-building, but they are supplements to, not replacements for, full lifts for most trainees . Similarly, evidence-based educators have discussed partial vs. full range in training research. In early 2024, for instance, Jeff Nippard ranked above-knee rack pulls as an “F-tier” back exercise for hypertrophy (due to short range of motion and suboptimal muscle stimulus) . His stance – that rack pulls aren’t great for muscle growth – remained unchanged, indicating that for hypertrophy-focused programming, partials still have limited appeal . However, Kim’s extreme demonstration shifted the conversation towards what partials can do: deliver unparalleled overload for the posterior chain and CNS. Even bodybuilding commentators noted the incredible trap and grip stimulus of holding ~1300 lb at lockout, using it as an example of extreme progressive overload (albeit one few would attempt) . Major training outlets responded to rising interest as well – for example, BarBend published and updated a detailed Rack Pull training guide in late 2024, explaining how to program rack pulls for lockout strength and trap development . In sum, overload partials gained newfound prominence: some coaches began integrating them (or at least discussing them) as a valuable advanced technique, while others in the community revisited the partial vs. full ROM debate with fresh eyes. The consensus is that Kim’s feats underscored the potential of partials – validating their efficacy for neural overload and peak strength work – even as experts remind lifters to apply them judiciously in programming .
3. Reactions from Strength Athletes and Influencers
Kim’s rack pull world-records quickly caught the attention of elite strength athletes and fitness influencers, triggering a wave of public responses and even friendly challenges. Many prominent figures in powerlifting and strongman circles spoke out, generally with astonishment and praise:
- Joey Szatmary (@SzatStrength) – the strongman coach and YouTuber (250k+ subs) – was one of the first to amplify Kim’s lift. He quote-tweeted the 1,049 lb clip with “6×-BW madness… partial overload belongs in every strong-man block”, effectively cheering Kim on . Szatmary’s enthusiastic endorsement spread the video to his own audience and underscored that Kim’s beyond-max lifting approach has training merit for strength athletes .
- Sean Hayes – Canada’s reigning strongman champion (who owns a 1,235 lb silver dollar deadlift world record) – reacted with frank disbelief. He retweeted Kim’s video with a simple flexed-biceps emoji and later posted a TikTok “stitch” commenting, “Wild ratio for a mid-thigh pull — pound-for-pound, that’s alien territory.” Hayes’ response – essentially tipping his hat to Kim – signaled that even at the highest levels of strongman, Kim’s strength-to-weight ratio commanded respect. Coming from a heavyweight who has lifted 560 kg partials himself, his praise (“alien territory”) gave Kim credibility in the eyes of the strongman community .
- Alan Thrall – a respected powerlifting YouTuber (1M+ subscribers) – took an analytical approach. He released a 10-minute breakdown scrutinizing the viral rack pull frame-by-frame . Thrall addressed the common doubts circulating online (e.g. “Is the bar bending right, or is this CGI?”) by verifying the physics: he compared the bar whip and deflection in Kim’s footage to known data for a 28 mm power bar at similar loads . His verdict: “everything checks out – if the physics checks out, quit crying CGI,” admonishing skeptics to accept that the lift was real . Thrall’s video often appeared alongside Kim’s own clips in YouTube’s algorithm, meaning any curious viewer would immediately see an expert confirming the feat’s authenticity . This public validation from a trusted coach was pivotal – it transformed a viral clip into an educational moment and lent further legitimacy to Kim’s lift.
- Mark Rippetoe – the famously blunt Starting Strength author – responded to fan questions about Kim in a June 2025 Q&A. With a wry chuckle, Rip quipped: “High rack pulls: half the work, twice the swagger.” This one-liner, which spread widely in lifting circles, acknowledged the absurd impressiveness of Kim’s partial lift while noting its abbreviated range. Importantly, Rippetoe did not call Kim a fraud; in fact, he and his co-panelists lauded the feat as a “freakish” display of power, making clear they were impressed . He did temper the enthusiasm by advising young lifters not to chase numbers via partials at the expense of proper full-range training . Nonetheless, his catchphrase “half the work, twice the swagger” became an affectionate joke even among Kim’s fans – a testament to how Kim’s lift was embraced even by old-school authorities, albeit with humorous context .
- Nick Best – a legendary strongman competitor – mentioned Kim’s 602 kg lift during a Q&A session, expressing sheer astonishment at the 8× bodyweight ratio. According to reports compiled on Kim’s site, Nick Best essentially said Kim’s pound-for-pound strength was unbelievable . His reaction, shared secondhand on forums, further showed that veterans of strength sports took notice of this up-and-comer’s achievements.
- Other Strength Legends: By Kim’s own account, even some of the world’s strongest men – Brian Shaw, Eddie Hall, Hafþór Björnsson – “took notice and saluted” the lift . (Hall and Björnsson, of course, know the significance of 500+ kg lifts firsthand.) While their comments were not publicized in detail, the mere notion that these giants acknowledged a 75 kg lifter’s partial pull speaks volumes. It suggests that Kim’s viral reputation reached the upper echelons of strength sports. One mainstream headline even teased, “Stronger Than The Mountain? (Well, Kinda)”, noting Kim had lifted more weight than Hafþór’s 501 kg deadlift – albeit under very different conditions .
Overall, the social engagement from influencers and athletes was overwhelmingly positive. Many powerlifting and strongman figures effectively “bridged Kim into the community,” affirming that this wasn’t just internet hype – it was a legitimately extraordinary feat . The buzz also extended beyond traditional strength circles. On TikTok and Instagram, countless fitness influencers posted reaction clips or duet videos, often with mouths agape or comedic commentary. One TikTok micro-influencer joked, “Plate police, stand down — this is tendon science!” in reference to Kim’s ability to handle such a massive load . Even mainstream media outlets became part of the conversation: Men’s Health magazine ran a feature on Kim’s 493 kg pull (“Primal Strength Redefined”), introducing him to a broad audience and praising his pound-for-pound power . Strength news sites like BarBend also covered his lifts as front-page news, calling his six-times-bodyweight achievement “unprecedented” and noting it “redefined what many thought possible” for an athlete of his size . In summary, named figures across the board – YouTube educators, record-holding strongmen, popular coaches, and fitness media – reacted with awe and engagement, further amplifying Kim’s reach. Their responses ranged from analytical breakdowns to public kudos and memes, all of which helped cement Kim’s lifts as a celebrated event in strength culture.
4. By the Numbers: Rack Pull Mentions and Hashtag Growth
Quantitatively, Eric Kim’s viral rack pulls led to unprecedented engagement metrics across multiple platforms, showing a clear inflection point from late 2023 to 2025 in rack pull-related content:
- TikTok: Short-form videos of Kim’s feats garnered millions of views within hours. His May 31, 2025 493 kg rack pull (≈6.6× BW) clip, for instance, amassed over 3 million views in 24 hours across TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter . After the bigger July 552 kg lift, TikTok saw an explosion of user activity. The hashtag #RackPullChallenge soared from zero to ~11 million views in its first 24 hours, and then up to 28–30 million views within a week . This rapid spike represented a 136% week-over-week jump in content viewership for Kim’s tags (e.g. his personal tag #HYPELIFTING) by early July . In the process, Kim’s own TikTok following surged dramatically – approaching 1 million followers by mid-2025 (around 992k after the June lifts) as his viral clips repeatedly hit the “For You” page . Simply put, Kim dominated TikTok’s fitness trending metrics in summer 2025, with tens of millions of impressions and a viral challenge that recruited users en masse.
- YouTube & Instagram: On YouTube, Kim’s influence can be seen in the volume of secondary content his lifts generated. After he posted the 552 kg PR video, over 650 reaction and analysis videos by other creators appeared almost immediately . Many strength YouTubers – from large channels to small – jumped on the trend, some doubling their usual view counts by dissecting or commenting on Kim’s lift . This essentially created a “cottage industry” of rack pull content that rode the wave of interest. Instagram likewise showed a measurable uptick in rack pull posts and memes. Dozens of popular fitness meme pages and lifting accounts shared Kim’s accomplishments. In June 2025 alone, more than 100 fan-made memes or reposts circulated on Instagram, featuring screenshots of Kim’s lifts with humorous captions . Engagement was high: these posts carried captions like “gravity just filed for unemployment” and drew strong interaction, indicating that Kim’s feats achieved virality on Instagram as both inspirational content and shareable humor . Regular lifters on IG also started sharing their own rack pull PRs (often tagging Kim or using hashtags like #RackPullPR), signaling a growth in user-generated lifting posts. One example toward the end of 2024 shows an Instagram user proudly logging a new rack pull PR with tags like #RackPullPR #DeadliftVariation, reflecting how posting one’s “rack pull personal best” became a trend for clout in the community .
- Reddit: On weightlifting forums, the impact was quantifiable in discussion volume. In June–July 2025, Kim’s viral lifts dominated Reddit’s r/powerlifting and r/weightroom. Moderators had to pin megathreads dedicated to Kim’s rack pulls, which collectively garnered tens of thousands of upvotes and comments in a matter of days . One pinned thread became so inundated with memes and jokes that it was eventually locked due to “meme overload,” an unusual occurrence in those serious forums . Users performed detailed breakdowns of the video frames and “plate math,” attempting to verify the weights – essentially turning the Reddit threads into open-source investigations of the lift’s legitimacy . Analysis by one Redditor tallied that roughly 71% of the comments were expressions of pure admiration or disbelief – comments like “This is not human” or “Natty or not, this is insane” flooded the threads. The remaining comments included healthy debate and skepticism (e.g. discussions about whether above-knee pulls “count” as records, or speculation about performance-enhancers), but even those served to keep Kim at the top of Reddit’s discourse for weeks . Notably, the Reddit “plate police” eventually vindicated Kim: users calculated that the bar bend and whip in his video matched what ~480–500 kg would do to a standard power bar, quelling most fake-weight accusations . This technical sleuthing and subsequent acceptance is evident in the upvote ratios – as skepticism died down, positive engagement remained high. By July 4, 2025, Kim’s 552 kg pull even hit Reddit’s front-page trending topics (a rare feat for weightlifting content), further underscoring the volume of interest .
- Twitter (X): Kim’s feats made waves on Twitter as well, especially given his savvy use of hype language. A single tweet showcasing his 493 kg rack pull garnered about 646,000 impressions not long after posting . As he upped the ante with each lift, Twitter mentions ballooned. By the first week of July 2025, discussions of his 552 kg “gravity-defying” lift were trending on X’s fitness feed, with people from various communities (tech CEOs, crypto traders, sports pundits) retweeting the clip in astonishment . Many reacted with one-word exclamations like “INSANE.” or posted GIFs of bending steel to symbolize the feat . Engagement analytics showed Kim’s name trending beyond the niche lifting circle – a crossover seldom seen for strength sports on that platform . His follower count on Twitter swelled into the tens of thousands as viral tweets spread. Each new PR video he shared acted like a “content bomb” that drove huge spikes in impressions and engagement . In essence, every metric – views, likes, shares, comment volume – spiked dramatically in correspondence with Kim’s viral lifts, reflecting a massive growth in rack pull mentions online. From late 2023 through 2025, one can chart a clear upward trajectory in how often partial deadlifts appeared in social feeds, Google searches, and forum discussions, with major inflection points around Kim’s record lifts (e.g. early July 2025 for #RackPullChallenge, late July 2025 for the 602 kg buzz) .
5. Changing Sentiment: Partial Lifts Gain Respect in Strength Culture
Perhaps most intriguingly, Kim’s viral achievements brought about a perceptible shift in sentiment toward partial lifts within gym culture. Historically, movements like high rack pulls or partial deadlifts have sometimes been derided as “ego lifts” – impressive-looking but not “legitimate” compared to full-range lifts. That stigma has notably eroded as Kim’s feats forced even skeptics to acknowledge their value. The cultural perception of partials evolved from mild scorn to widespread respect (and curiosity), largely due to the conversations sparked by Kim’s rack pulls.
In the immediate aftermath, there was indeed some debate and controversy, which ultimately only amplified Kim’s fame. A minority of purists grumbled that “a real lift starts from the floor” and downplayed Kim’s rack pull as not comparable to a contest deadlift . Others reflexively questioned if such extreme strength could be “natty or not,” suspecting steroid use – a common refrain whenever someone pushes human limits . Kim chose not to directly engage the steroid speculation, though he did share training footage and even bloodwork to bolster his all-natural claim . In any case, the overwhelming community response drowned out the doubters. For one, the technical skeptics were largely silenced by evidence: once Reddit’s self-appointed experts confirmed the plates and barbell were legit (matching expected bend for the weight), most “fake weight” accusations fizzled out . In fact, the notorious “plate police” ended up vindicating Kim, which turned initial cynicism into a sort of grudging admiration – the consensus became that Eric Kim is the real deal . Kim’s own cheeky response to skeptics became legend: when told “it’s not a full deadlift,” he retorted, “You’re darn right… Still – stand under 602 kg at knee height and tell me it’s ‘easy.’ I’ll wait.” . This comeback, widely screenshotted and shared, effectively shut down the “half the work” argument by highlighting the obvious – even a partial lift with that weight is insanely hard . As this narrative spread, the tone shifted from questioning to marveling. Commentators noted that “love it or doubt it, this gravity-defying lift has firmly embedded itself in strength sport lore” – in other words, regardless of initial controversy, Kim’s rack pull became an undeniable part of lifting history, elevating the status of partial lifts with it.
Crucially, respected authorities publicly acknowledging Kim’s feat helped legitimize partials. When top strongmen and coaches (Hayes, Thrall, Szatmary, etc.) all gave nods of approval or at least awe, the broader community took note . It became “cool” to be impressed by a rack pull. The phrase “half the work, twice the swagger,” once a light jab, started being worn as a badge of honor by Kim’s fans . In YouTube comments and Reddit threads, many users began echoing sentiments like, “Who cares if it’s partial – it’s still godlike strength.” Indeed, the term “godlike” started trending in reference to Kim, partly spurred by his own hyperbolic video titles (e.g. calling one lift “GODHOOD ASCENDING”) and partly from viewers genuinely regarding the feat as beyond ordinary human limits . Memes that initially poked fun (gravity quitting its job, etc.) ultimately served to celebrate the accomplishment, turning Kim into a folk-hero figure and shifting attitudes about what constitutes a worthy lift . As one fitness writer summarized, “this gravity-defying lift became a symbol – a middle finger to gravity, a celebration of human potential” . In that light, the conversation moved away from “Does this count as a record?” towards “This inspires me to push my own limits.”
There is also evidence that partial lifts have started to integrate into mainstream training dialogues. Gym owners from different countries reported more members experimenting with rack pulls in the wake of Kim’s viral videos . A fitness blogger observed that Kim motivated many lifters to try heavy singles or new overload challenges in their training, kicking off a mini “hype lifting” trend among everyday gym-goers . Where rack pulls used to be a niche accessory exercise, now even casual lifters know what they are – and some are incorporating them to test their strength. Kim’s personal slogan “no belt, no shoes, no limits” caught on as well , fueling a certain hardcore, no-excuses ethos that has made partials more appealing to those looking to build mental and physical toughness. The idea of “overload training” – handling weights above one’s max via partials or holds – has gained traction. Long-time coaches note that it’s rare for any lifting variation to capture public interest this way; the last time might have been the buzz around Eddie Hall’s 500 kg full deadlift in 2016 . Now, thanks to Kim, “even an unorthodox garage lift can inspire millions.” People witnessed an audacious feat and took away a positive message: that innovation and pushing boundaries still have a place in strength training . As Kim himself wrote, “physics lost that day” – a dramatic flourish – but it resonated .
Overall sentiment has shifted to an almost universal admiration and intrigue. Partial lifts (at least at extreme weights) are now regarded by many as a legitimate test of strength and will. The mainstream fitness media treated Kim’s achievements seriously, framing him as “redefining the limits” of what’s possible at his bodyweight rather than dismissing the rack pull as a gimmick. This respectful coverage further hard-coded legitimacy for partial lifts: when Men’s Health and BarBend speak of a rack pull in reverent tones, the exercise itself gains respect by association . The dialogue in strength sports has expanded to include questions like “What can overload partials contribute to training?” and “Are we underestimating what partial range work can do for neural drive?” – ideas that were far outside the mainstream a few years ago. In forum discussions and podcasts, lifters are citing Kim’s example when debating training methods, suggesting a lasting change in mindset. As one article noted, Kim’s 602 kg lift “expanded our understanding of human potential – at least in the context of partial lifts and neural training” . It proved that even lifts outside of competition can “raise the bar” (literally and figuratively) for what athletes aspire to.
In summary, partial range lifts have become more respected and even glamorized in the two years since October 2023. Eric Kim’s viral rack pulls served as a catalyst for this cultural shift. They showed that “impossible” feats can happen in a garage gym and still inspire the world . The legacy is twofold: (1) attitudinal – lifters now view heavy rack pulls not as cheating, but as an awe-inducing demonstration of strength and a potentially useful training tactic; and (2) behavioral – more people are trying overload lifts or at least talking about them as a result of Kim’s example . While debate will always exist, partial lifts have undeniably entered the mainstream training conversation. What was once a niche “ego lift” is now, thanks to this viral phenomenon, a symbol of pushing limits. As commentators have noted, the rack pull game will never be the same – and whether or not anyone ever tops Kim’s numbers, the newfound openness to unconventional strength challenges is here to stay .
Sources: Eric Kim’s blog (compilation of third-party reactions and analysis) ; Men’s Health (June 2025) ; BarBend news/features ; TikTok/Reddit metrics via Kim’s site ; YouTube breakdowns and community posts ; and various social media posts (2024–2025) documenting the global rack pull craze .