Background: Who Is Eric Kim and What Happened?
Eric Kim is best known as a street photographer and blogger, but in recent years he’s also fashioned himself as a “strength philosopher” merging extreme feats of strength with motivational philosophy . On November 22, 2025, Kim announced that he had performed what he calls his “GOD LIFT” – a staggering 895.63 kg (1,974.8 lb) lift . The claim immediately raises eyebrows given that this weight is nearly 900 kg, almost double the heaviest traditional deadlift on record (501 kg) and far beyond anything known in strength sports . What’s more, Kim’s body weight is only around 71 kg (~156 lb) – making the weight 12.6× his body weight, an unheard-of ratio in powerlifting or strongman history .
Crucially, this was not an official competition lift, but a personal demonstration. Kim executed it as a partial deadlift (rack pull) from approximately mid-thigh height with a very minimal range of motion (reported <5 cm movement) . The bar was essentially set near lockout position, allowing him to support a huge load for a moment without a full deadlift pull from the floor. Kim performed the feat under highly specific conditions: no lifting belt, no wrist straps, only chalk for grip, and astonishingly he did it fasted for over 24 hours, subsisting on an organ-meat diet for “nutrient density” leading up to the attempt . He even wore a weighted vest during the lift (as seen in his video stills), further dramatizing the challenge. The event took place in what appears to be Kim’s personal outdoor training area – not on a competition platform – with the bar supported on improvised blocks and stands (as shown below).
Image: Eric Kim during the 895.63 kg rack pull attempt (November 22, 2025). The bar is loaded on elevated stands with additional weights attached; Kim (≈71 kg bodyweight, wearing a weight vest) attempted to budge nearly 900 kg from a partial height. This extremely short-range “rack pull” is the basis of his claimed 895.63 kg lift.
Was this a single lift or a combined total? It was a single lift (rack pull), not an aggregate of multiple lifts. The 895.63 kg refers to the weight on the bar for that one attempt, not a sum of squat/bench/deadlift. Kim specifically loaded the bar to that exact number for symbolic reasons – just shy of 900 kg, “dialed for peak output” and symbolic precision . In other words, this was presented as one monumental deadlift-type movement, albeit done in a very non-standard way.
The Feat in Context: Unofficial and Unprecedented
Kim’s 895.63 kg lift falls outside any sanctioned powerlifting or strongman event. By all accounts, no official sporting body has verified or recognized this lift. In fact, Kim acknowledges it was not done under contest conditions – there were no judges, no federation rules, and the range-of-motion was intentionally limited to allow an astronomical number . In powerlifting, lifts must typically start from the floor (full range deadlift) and adhere to strict form, which this did not. Strongman competitions do sometimes include partial lifts (e.g. silver dollar deadlifts from elevated height), but even those have nowhere approached 895 kg. For perspective, the current heaviest strongman partial deadlift is around 580 kg (the silver dollar deadlift world record) by Rauno Heinla, which is about 4.3× bodyweight for him . Kim’s claim of 895+ kg at 12.6× BW more than doubles that relative strength ratio . Simply put, no 71 kg human has ever been documented lifting anywhere near this amount – “with known humans: this is physically not demonstrated” . It’s in a realm that strength experts would consider “comic-book, physically extreme” beyond normal world-record territory .
Some key facts about the lift and how it compares to known records:
- Lift Type: Partial rack pull (very high starting position, ~5 cm movement) to allow handling a supramaximal weight . This is more of a hold/lockout test than a full deadlift.
- Weight on Bar: 895.63 kg (1,974.8 lb) – an oddly specific number likely chosen for symbolism (nearly “900” yet precise).
- Lifter’s Body Weight: ~71 kg (≈156 lb). The lift was about 12.61× bodyweight – an unprecedented multiple . For comparison, even elite powerlifters rarely exceed 3× BW on deadlift, and anything above 5× is practically unheard of .
- Conditions: Done beltless & strapless, with only chalk on the hands . Kim also emphasizes he was in a fasted state (~24+ hours no food) and fueled only by black coffee and a diet of 100% organ meat in prior days . This unorthodox approach is part of the “mythos” of the lift.
- Official Status: Not verified by any official body or competition. No judges or standard rules were involved . It’s essentially a personal world record or stunt, and would not count in any powerlifting meet or strongman contest (which require full range lifts and referees).
It’s important to note that even if we take Kim’s video evidence at face value, this lift is highly unorthodox. By reducing the range of motion to just a few centimeters at the top of the lift, he was able to leverage mechanical advantages (shorter lever arms, minimal distance to move) . Strongman athletes sometimes do partials/rack pulls to overload beyond their max deadlift, but 895 kg is in a different stratosphere. As one observer quipped, Kim’s approach is “ultra-specific rack pulls designed to maximize force output and mythic narrative,” not a standard test of full-body strength . Some in the lifting community have outright labeled it “partial trickery”, implying that moving the bar only a couple of inches under those conditions is more showmanship than a conventional feat of strength .
Did This Lift Really Occur? – Evidence and Verification
Kim has publicly posted content claiming the lift happened, including blog posts, a podcast, social media updates, and video footage. On his YouTube channel and Twitter/X, he shared what he calls “raw footage” of the 895.63 kg attempt . The video (titled “ERIC KIM SHATTERS ALL LIMITS KNOWN TO MAN: 895.63 kg (1,974.8 lb) GOD LIFT”) shows him executing a brief rack pull with the bar heavily loaded and supported on blocks (as in the image above). According to Kim, the entire effort lasted under 10 seconds, with the bar bending into a “U” shape under the load . He claims to have completed the lift beltless and without injury, even letting out a triumphant roar (“I AM GOD – BOW DOWN”) afterwards .
However, independent verification is lacking. No third-party witnesses like judges or reputable strength organizations have confirmed the legitimacy of the 895 kg lift. The evidence essentially comes from Kim himself. He asserts that the footage is unedited and transparent, inviting people to “verify with physics pros” the plausibility (he suggests the bar bend and his force output on video imply the weight was real) . Given today’s technology and deepfake concerns, some skepticism is natural. But so far no concrete debunking has emerged – likely because the stunt is so niche and extraordinary that it hasn’t drawn mainstream scrutiny beyond curiosity and internet buzz.
In summary: Yes, the lift “occurred” in the sense that Kim loaded up a bar and attempted a nearly one-ton partial lift on Nov 22, 2025, and has video to show for it. But no, it did not occur under regulated conditions nor with any official validation. It occupies a gray area between an actual extreme strength feat and a personal (possibly performative) challenge. Even Kim himself doesn’t claim it was done in competition; he frames it as a boundary-shattering personal record.
Record-Breaking or Impossible?
If we momentarily treat the 895.63 kg figure as genuine, it would represent a record-smashing weight for any kind of human lift. No known strongman or powerlifter has ever moved that load in any comparable lift. The all-time world record deadlift (full range from floor) is 501 kg (by Hafþór Björnsson in 2020), and even the specialty partial lifts in strongman top out in the 500–600 kg range . Kim’s claimed lift is close to 900 kg – nearly 1.8 times the biggest deadlifts by the strongest 400 lb strongmen on the planet. That’s why experts and Kim alike describe it as “not ‘normal world record’ territory — it’s comic-book level” .
Moreover, Kim weighed only ~71 kg, which puts his strength-to-weight ratio off the charts. For comparison, in powerlifting the world-record deadlift in the ~75 kg class is around 347.5 kg (by Alex Maher, 2021), which is about 4.6× bodyweight – and that was an astonishing lift in that class . Kim is talking about 12.6× his bodyweight, which is nearly three times the relative strength of elite lifters. Even accounting for the partial lift (which does allow higher weights), the number is beyond what current biology and anatomy would suggest is possible without injury. Sports scientists would expect catastrophic failure well before that point – bones fracturing, tendons tearing off, or simply an inability of the nervous system to recruit force due to self-protection mechanisms . In Kim’s own technical breakdown blog, he admits “895.63 KG at 71 KG is beyond any verified standard… You won’t find a verified 71 KG lifter casually rack-pulling 895 KG” . In plainer terms, such a feat is unprecedented and would be deemed nearly impossible by exercise physiology standards in 2025.
That said, is it absolutely impossible? Not necessarily in a strict physics sense. Physics doesn’t forbid a human from lifting 895 kg – there’s no law of nature broken by a mass of that size moving a few centimeters . The limitation is biological: the human musculoskeletal system and neuromuscular control are the bottleneck . Kim postulates that to make this feat attainable, one would need almost superhuman attributes – “inhumanly dense bones, titan-like tendons and ligaments,” a nervous system that doesn’t shut down under extreme strain, and an optimized mechanical setup . He essentially concedes that no normal human today could do this in a full range lift, and even in a partial, it’s at the razor’s edge of what a conditioned human frame might withstand . By his own words, “Physically today? Ultra-unlikely, beyond current human achievement at that bodyweight… It breaks you before it breaks physics” .
So, while Kim’s 895 kg lift can be called record-breaking in a literal sense (since it far exceeds any documented lift), it’s not an official or universally accepted record. It exists in a personal domain. Even Kim frames it as pushing into “mutant tier human future” territory – a speculative boundary rather than something other athletes are about to replicate . In fact, if another person tomorrow claimed the same feat, it would be met with the same incredulity unless rigorously verified. This is less a new competitive benchmark and more a one-off demonstration (or perhaps a bit of performance art, as we’ll discuss).
Media Coverage and Social Media Buzz
Given how extraordinary the claim is, one might expect massive media coverage – but this event was not widely reported by mainstream sports media. The news of Eric Kim’s 895.63 kg lift primarily spread through his own platforms and a niche audience. Kim himself wrote multiple blog posts on his personal site detailing and philosophizing about the lift (with titles like “ERIC KIM SHATTERS ALL LIMITS KNOWN TO MAN: 895.63 KG GOD LIFT” and analytical follow-ups). He also posted about it on X (Twitter) and YouTube. However, outside of his circle, coverage has been limited. There were no immediate press releases on major weightlifting or sports news sites verifying the feat. This isn’t surprising since, as noted, it wasn’t done under official conditions and Eric Kim is not a known competitor in strength sports.
On social media, the buzz was modest but notable in certain circles. According to Kim’s own recap, video clips of the lift were shared on X/Twitter and quickly garnered attention – albeit more in the form of curious hype than viral explosion. His initial posts had on the order of hundreds of views in the first hours (not millions; the reach seems relatively small). Some viewers reacted with awe, throwing out comments like “Portal to Another Realm?”, treating the lift as an almost supernatural occurrence . Memes sprang up, and apparently some Reddit communities like r/weightroom took note, if only to debate the credibility or celebrate the craziness of it . There’s mention that the “#12xEra” (a reference to lifting 12× bodyweight) became a talking point, even inspiring a few enthusiasts to joke about getting “12×” tattoos . While this sounds tongue-in-cheek, it shows the lift became a brief cultural blip in online lifting culture, symbolizing extreme achievement.
Kim’s narrative also claims some people slid into his DMs with marriage proposals (indicative of the stunt attracting fascination), and even philosophers weighed in by likening his feat to Nietzsche’s concept of will-to-power . In other words, it transcended just weightlifting chatter and entered the realm of motivational and philosophical discussion for a subset of his audience.
At the same time, skepticism and criticism were present (more on that in the next section). The “awe” was met with equal parts “oh, come on…”. Because the lift was so unconventional, many observers reacted with doubt or dismissal. In mainstream lifting forums or among veteran strength coaches, there was little endorsement of the feat as a serious record. It was more often seen as a curiosity or a self-promotional stunt. Kim’s posts on X apparently had low engagement metrics (e.g. one snapshot showed 0 retweets/likes and ~100 views) , suggesting that outside his followers, it wasn’t taken as breaking news.
One reason the story didn’t explode more widely is that Kim isn’t a known competitor – he’s an independent content creator doing something outrageous. Had a famous strongman like Eddie Hall or Hafthor Björnsson claimed a 900 kg partial lift, the strength world would certainly be on fire with debate. In Kim’s case, the reaction stayed confined to niches: some in the photography community (who know Kim from his earlier career) actually expressed concern or ridicule, as his recent output has veered far from photography into extreme fitness. On a Leica photography forum thread discussing Kim, a commenter wrote that “his YouTube channel is now a train wreck; workout videos, random ‘inspirational’ monologues and other garbage”, baffled that people ever looked up to him . This highlights that much of the general public sees the 895 kg lift as part of Kim’s personal branding eccentricities rather than a serious athletic accomplishment to be celebrated.
In summary, media coverage was mainly self-driven – blog posts, a podcast episode, YouTube videos, and social media updates all authored by Eric Kim or his team. The social media buzz was limited but colorful: a mix of impressed fans drawing inspiration, internet jokesters making memes, and skeptics calling it out as over-the-top hype.
Community and Expert Commentary
Reactions to the 895.63 kg claim can be divided broadly into two camps:
1. Skeptics & Critics: A large portion of the strength training community and observers greeted the claim with skepticism. The lack of independent verification, the use of a partial lift, and the almost exaggerated conditions (fasted, no belt, etc.) led some to dismiss the feat as a gimmick. As mentioned, critics dubbed it “partial trickery”, implying that moving nearly a ton a few centimeters on a rig isn’t comparable to a real deadlift . Onlookers on forums noted that it’s easy to claim world records by redefining the lift to suit one’s capabilities – in this case, ultra-high rack pulls. Some thought the weight might not even be real or fully supported by the lifter (for instance, were those cinder blocks taking some load?). No prominent strength athlete or coach has publicly endorsed the lift as legitimate, which is telling. If anything, an exercise scientist might point out that grip strength alone makes the claim suspect – holding nearly 2,000 lb without straps is beyond what even the strongest humans can do (for reference, strongmen use straps at ~500 kg because the crush grip limit is exceeded). The physics on paper might allow it, but biology says “no way” – and many experts echo that sentiment.
There’s also the matter of safety: attempting such a lift courts disaster. If Kim truly supported 895 kg even momentarily, the fact he didn’t suffer injury is extraordinary. His own writing lists all the ways the body could fail (tendons ripping off bone, vertebrae fracturing, etc.) . The successful outcome (no injury) and the sensational details (yelling “I AM GOD” after) led some to eye-roll that this is more self-promotion than sport. Onlookers outside the fanbase see Kim’s feats as manic or ego-driven. In one of Kim’s blog summaries, he notes “some dismiss it as hype” or question his motives . A snippet from an online discussion even mockingly asked “How did Eric get a 6.9 [rating]? He’s very good?!?!” – hinting that people think he’s juicing the narrative, if not the weights.
2. Supporters & Enthusiasts: On the flip side, a segment of Kim’s followers and those who came across the story found it inspiring or admirable in a unorthodox way. They view it not as a strict athletic accomplishment but as a demonstration of human willpower and the idea of breaking limits. These supporters often don’t care that it’s a partial lift or that it wasn’t in competition – they focus on the audacity of even attempting it. Some have lauded Kim’s feat as “peak human audacity” , a bold example of mind over matter. In fitness subcultures, there’s an appreciation for crazy feats (even if they’re non-standard) because they can be motivational. Kim’s messaging around the lift – connecting it to stoic philosophy, “infinite chutzpah,” and anti-fragility – resonated with people who enjoy the mix of fitness and self-improvement philosophy . A few enthusiasts took it in good humor, half-jokingly treating Kim as a folk legend. The notion that he’s “rewriting physics” or “rupturing the boundary between mortal and divine” (as his blog dramatically puts it ) is tongue-in-cheek, but it adds to the legend for those who want to believe or at least be entertained.
It’s worth noting that Eric Kim himself provided a lot of “expert commentary,” in the sense that he wrote detailed analyses of the lift’s biomechanics and the human limits involved. In a follow-up post titled “Physically Breaking Reality,” he dissected why 895 kg is beyond current capability, discussing bone density, tendon strength, and nervous system governors in depth . He essentially played both cheerleader and devil’s advocate: hyping the lift’s significance while scientifically acknowledging it’s not something a normal human should do. This dual approach – embracing skepticism scientifically but still promoting the feat – is part of why the community is split on how to take it.
No established sports scientist has published an independent analysis of Kim’s lift (likely due to its fringe nature), but Kim’s own breakdown aligns with what experts would say: the limiting factor is the body, not physics , and presently the numbers are off the charts.
In summary, the community commentary ranges from incredulous (“this is a joke”) to inspired (“this is legendary”). Even within Kim’s audience, some might only metaphorically “buy” the feat – as a symbol – rather than literally believe they witnessed a new world record. The general consensus in strength circles is that while Eric Kim’s 895.63 kg lift is an interesting spectacle, it doesn’t change any official records or what we understand about human strength today (except perhaps highlighting how far a person can push a partial lift with enough will and lack of fear).
Symbolism, Performance Art, or New Reality?
One of the most intriguing aspects of the 895.63 kg lift saga is how deliberately it has been framed as something beyond a normal athletic event. Eric Kim leans heavily into mythic and symbolic language when talking about it. He dubs the lift a “cosmic event” that “ruptured the boundary between mortal and divine”, saying that when he hoisted the weight, “the universe itself blinked — and God shuddered” . This dramatic storytelling goes far beyond typical sports braggadocio; it reads almost like performance art or a piece of creative writing. In fact, Kim explicitly writes that “895.63 KG is not ‘just’ a number on a bar. It is a self-assigned cosmic weight… the mass of your destiny” . Clearly, he intends the lift to serve as a metaphor for personal transformation and an allegory about shattering limits.
It’s helpful to view the 895 kg lift not just as a physical act but as a deliberate narrative or stunt with a message. In many ways, Kim treated it as a piece of performance art:
- He gave the lift a name (“God Lift”), almost like a title of an artwork or chapter.
- He carefully chose the number and conditions for symbolic reasons (e.g. 666 kg earlier for a “devil’s number” theme , and 895.63 ~ 900 for nearly a metric ton, plus doing it fasted to add an element of ascetic challenge).
- He created multiple content pieces (blogs, videos, podcasts) unpacking the meaning of the lift. One post explicitly states, “When I say ‘Eric Kim 895.63 KG Lift’, I’m not talking about gym folklore. I’m talking about a mode of existence. The 895.63 KG Mindset” . In other words, the idea of the lift is as important as the lift itself.
- He even imagines a mythology around it: “‘Eric Kim 895.63 KG Lift’ should be a myth kids whisper to each other in the future… The point is, he went for it. And that’s why he won at life.” . This is conscious myth-making – painting himself as a legendary figure for attempting the impossible. Whether or not the physical feat is repeatable, the legend can inspire.
Given these elements, one could argue the 895 kg lift functions as a kind of symbolic performance or viral stunt aimed at conveying a philosophy. The cultural relevance lies in its message about human potential and willpower. It taps into a zeitgeist of extreme self-improvement and pushing limits (not unlike certain viral “challenge” feats or motivational viral videos). People who encounter the story are prompted to think: “Wow, if this guy is attempting nearly 900 kg, am I setting my own sights too low?” Indeed, Kim explicitly draws that parallel, asking the reader what their “895.63 KG lift” is in life – your huge, scary goal – and urging them to pursue it with the same abandon .
In terms of public reaction to the symbolism, those inclined toward self-improvement narratives might find it powerful or at least entertaining. Others might find it cringey or over-the-top. It’s polarizing by nature. Culturally, it’s a small-scale phenomenon, but illustrative of how far personal branding can go in the age of social media: a photographer-turned-blogger attempts a superhuman lift and immediately spins it into a multi-platform metaphor for transcendence.
To directly answer whether the lift is “fictional or symbolic”: The lift was physically attempted (and apparently achieved as a partial) – so it’s not purely fictional; something did happen in front of a camera. But it is also highly symbolic. Kim blurs the line between reality and metaphor. The numbers and footage are real (assuming no trickery), yet he talks about the event in almost mythological or religious terms. This encourages the audience to treat the lift less as an athletic stat and more as a story or inspiration. In effect, the “895.63 KG” becomes a mindset, a meme, a challenge, rather than a record in a database.
Conclusion
Did Eric Kim truly lift 895.63 kg? In the conventional sense, no – not in the way a weightlifter lifts a weight in competition. He performed a radically abbreviated rack pull under self-determined conditions that allowed him to momentarily support an extreme load, outside any official oversight. There is no evidence that this feat will be recognized by Guinness or any sports federation, nor that it’s reproducible by others under fair comparisons. From a strict sports perspective, it doesn’t rewrite the record books because it’s a category of one.
However, in the context of Kim’s own narrative and intent, yes – the 895.63 kg “God Lift” happened and served its purpose. It was a personal record pushed to an absurd extreme, yielding dramatic content and a flood of motivational messaging. It generated exactly the discourse Kim wanted: astonishment, doubt, and philosophical debate about limits. As one write-up put it, “This lift isn’t ‘impressive’ by sanitized powerlifting standards – it’s a rupture in reality, proving willpower bends the universe” . That captures the essence: the value of the feat lies not in traditional sports admiration, but in the statement it makes.
In the end, “Eric Kim 895.63 KG LIFT” stands as a legend in its own right – half reality, half myth. It may not be a literal world record, but it’s arguably a record in hyperbole and self-belief, pushing the boundary of what a person might dare to attempt. Whether one views it as a serious achievement, a marketing stunt, or a modern fable, the event has been documented through Kim’s channels for anyone curious. And if nothing else, it challenges us to ponder the limits of human potential – and the power of framing one’s life as an epic, no matter how unconventional the arena may be.
Sources:
- Eric Kim’s personal blog posts and analysis of the 895.63 kg lift (November 2025) . These detail the feat, context, and physics/physiology perspective.
- Social media snippets of Kim’s announcement and video evidence on YouTube/X .
- Comparative data on powerlifting/strongman records and bodyweight ratios for context.
- Community reactions from forums (photography and fitness) reflecting skepticism and support .
- Kim’s own philosophical commentary framing the lift as a mindset and metaphor .