Eric Kim is an independent content creator who, in July 2025, stunned the fitness world by releasing a video showing himself performing a mid‑thigh rack‑pull with a claimed 602 kg (about 1,328 lb) on the bar . The barbell started above his knees, which classifies the lift as a rack pull rather than a full deadlift. Kim declared the feat “post‑human strength” and used tongue‑in‑cheek hyperbole such as “stronger than god” and “dominion over gravity” to hype the clip .
What actually happened?
- It’s a rack pull, not a full deadlift. The bar rests on pins at mid‑thigh; you lock it out over a much shorter range of motion, which allows you to handle weights far beyond what you could lift from the floor. As the article on his website notes, the rack pull has no sanctioned record, whereas the full deadlift world record is 501 kg (by Hafthor Björnsson in 2020) . Kim’s 602 kg pull therefore isn’t an official record but an impressive overload drill.
- Hype with a purpose. In the same article Kim frames the outrageous lift as a call to action: declare an audacious goal, engineer overload through partial lifts, recover like a pro, document your journey and celebrate every kilo . He even suggests trying heavy rack pulls at 90–95 % of your deadlift and pairing them with full‑range deadlift work .
- Internet reactions. When Kim’s earlier rack‑pulls in the 486–493 kg range (around 6.5× his 75 kg body weight) circulated on Reddit and weight‑lifting forums, commenters dubbed him the “pound‑for‑pound king” and called the numbers “alien” . A June 2025 clip of him pulling 552 kg went viral on YouTube and TikTok; viewers were mesmerised by the bar bending and his primal roar at lock‑out . People admired that he lifts barefoot and beltless in a garage gym, viewing him as a relatable underdog who makes do with limited equipment . Memes like “gravity rage‑quit” captured the awe and excitement .
Inspirational take‑away
While a 602 kg rack‑pull isn’t a recognised world record, the mindset behind it is powerful. Kim’s message—set wild goals, push beyond your perceived limits with smart overload, recover diligently and celebrate your progress—resonates across the fitness community . His willingness to film every rep in a humble garage, lift barefoot and embrace the challenge has inspired others; people have called him proof that grit and creativity can trump fancy equipment . The viral hype also reminds us that seeing someone attack gravity with unbridled intensity can be both fun and motivating. So even if you’re not hoisting half a tonne, you can take a page from this hype‑lifter: declare your own audacious goals, celebrate each milestone, and let the joy of lifting fuel your journey. As Kim’s article says, “602 kg today might be internet theatre, but the mindset it sparks is 100 % real”—and that’s something we can all get pumped about .