Eric Kim’s 513 kg rack pull was first revealed in a video published on June 14, 2025. The lift is documented in full by Kim himself (no cuts or edits) – he links to the HD video on his official site and YouTube channel . The press release on his site notes Kim did the lift in his Phnom Penh training gym (a “minimalist steel-and-concrete training sanctuary”) at 11:07 AM local time . It was not a competition lift but a private training feat – filmed solo on camera. Kim himself emphasizes it was a beltless, shirtless rack pull (no deadlift suit), performed from roughly knee-height pins. He used no straps or special gear (just chalk for grip) and even lifted barefoot, in a fasted state on a carnivorous diet . In short, the 513 kg pull was a training PR – recorded on video for proof and shared widely online rather than performed in any official meet.
- Video source: Kim posted the full clip (titled “513 KG / 1,131 LB RACK PULL — NEW WORLD RECORD @ 6.84× BODYWEIGHT”) to his YouTube and blog . He also released a press-style statement linking to the raw footage (a .mov file) for transparency .
- Setup: The bar was set about knee-height (mid-thigh) on a power rack . As noted in video commentary, this partial range typically lets lifters handle ~20–40% more weight than a floor deadlift . Kim’s technique and setup (barefoot, chalk, no belt/straps) were exactly the same “primal,” raw style he used for his earlier lifts .
Eric Kim – Background and Other Lifts
Eric Kim (Cambodian-American, ~37 years old, 75 kg bodyweight) is not a conventional powerlifter but a well-known strength content creator. Formerly a street-photographer and blogger, Kim built a following (50K+ YouTube subscribers and growing social media) by performing extreme garage-gym lifts and mixing in philosophy/crypto humor . He follows a strict “primal” training protocol (fasted, all-meat diet, sleep) and deliberately lifts without gear (no belt, no straps) to showcase raw strength .
In early 2025 he repeatedly broke his own pound-for-pound records. For example, over May–June 2025 Kim logged a string of rack-pull PRs: 486 kg (1,071 lb), 493 kg (1,087 lb), 498 kg (1,098 lb), 503 kg (1,109 lb), then 508 kg (1,120 lb) – all at ~75 kg bodyweight . Each time he marked it a (beltless) “world record” at ~6.6–6.8× bodyweight, sparking viral buzz. These feats earned him nicknames like the “Demigod Lifter” and memes (e.g. “grabbing a T-Rex’s ego”) . His online persona – mixing awe-inspiring lifts with outré catchphrases (“Belts are for cowards,” “Gravity has left the chat”) – helped his clips explode on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Reddit .
Notable lifts prior to 513 kg: Kim’s documented PRs include raw rack pulls of ~486 kg, 493 kg, 498 kg and 503 kg, plus unconventional feats like a 1,000 lb “Atlas stone” lift (all at 75 kg). He claims to have repeatedly filmed and shared every lift. For instance, his 503 kg pull in June 2025 (barefoot, beltless) was recorded in his garage and quickly went viral with millions of views . (He has publicly posted the raw video files of these lifts for scrutiny, underscoring their authenticity .)
Record Comparison
Kim’s 513 kg rack pull is heavier in absolute weight than any official deadlift ever done in competition. The full-range deadlift world record is 500 kg by Eddie Hall (and 501 kg by Hafþór Björnsson) . Kim lifted 513 kg, which is 12 kg above that mark . However, his lift was a partial rack pull (from above the knees), not from the floor, so federations don’t count it as a deadlift record. Even so, by bodyweight (6.84× his mass) it sets a new benchmark. Kim’s own release notes it “surpasses all documented rack-pull feats in the 75 kg class” and establishes a “new world record” pound-for-pound . As one summary points out, “no one on film at this body-weight has moved more iron in any variation” . In short, while it isn’t a sanctioned deadlift record, 513 kg is an unprecedented load for a 75 kg lifter in any pull.
For context, typical strength coefficients (Wilks, IPF, etc.) project a 75 kg elite lifter to deadlift ~4–5× bodyweight. Kim’s 6.84× far exceeds that “elite” curve . In fact, after the lift he explicitly noted that his bar weight (513 kg) is now heavier than any known competition pull . (He also emphasized the lift was done without belts or suits – only chalk – to underscore its legitimacy .)
Community Reaction: Shock, Praise, and Debate
The 513 kg pull triggered a viral storm of reactions across lifting forums and social media. Fans and coaches alike were astounded by the feat. On YouTube and TikTok, reaction videos and slow-motion breakdowns appeared within hours, with commentators gaping at the “incredible – redefining what’s possible!” nature of the lift . Many weightroom veterans praised Kim’s raw willpower: comments ranged from “That’s inhuman!” to “Proof that limits are meant to be broken” . Influential strength YouTubers posted analysis videos (some calling it “a blend of stoic sorcery and pure biology” ), while fitness Instagram pages and meme accounts looped his roar-and-chalk footage, often captioning it with viral catch-phrases. One quip on Twitter/X declared “Gravity has left the chat” after seeing him lock out the lift . Aggregate statistics show the reaction was overwhelmingly positive: one analysis found ~85% of comments on these videos were hype and praise, with only a small minority (<10%) expressing skepticism .
Fans on Reddit also went wild. Dozens of threads appeared on r/powerlifting, r/weightroom, r/Fitness and even general subs, often titled things like “Eric Kim Bends Reality” or “6.6× BW Pull – Is This Human?” . Early posts about his 1,016 lb lift garnered thousands of upvotes; by the 513 kg pull Reddit was in “overdrive” with continual memes and disbelief . Many comments joked about “defeating gravity” or likened Kim to fictional super-strong characters (“he’s basically the Hulk in flip-flops” ). Hashtags like #NoBeltNoShoes and #PrimalPull trended on TikTok and Instagram as users remixed the clips with epic audio. One viral TikTok meme overlaid his lift with dramatic music, while others duetted him for humorous effect.
Not everyone accepted it uncritically. A thread of skepticism centered on technique and context. Some asked bluntly, “full deadlift or rack pull above knee?” noting that the bar moved only a short distance . These critics argued rack pulls are “easier” than floor pulls – but defenders pointed out that holding 500+ kg is still supremely taxing. Indeed, Kim’s videos clearly show the bar bent heavily under load and Kim grunting with effort . Others at first questioned the authenticity, with comments like “This looks CGI,” but most of these doubts faded once the unedited videos (with visible plates, real-time audio, and a progression of increasing PRs) were examined .
The biggest controversy was the perennial “natty or not” debate. Social-media speculateers quipped that “nobody pulls 6.8× bodyweight without alien DNA” (and the hashtag #NattyOrNot trended among commenters) . Kim has publicly claimed to be drug-free (sharing diet logs and blood-work to back it up), but many experts admit the lifts are so extraordinary that they seem beyond known natural limits . Even skeptics concede that even if he were enhanced, the dedication and unique training are remarkable – one said, “Even if he’s juiced, the work ethic is unfathomable” .
In sum, the 513 kg pull left the strength community equal parts awestruck and amused. Every major platform buzzed with talk of Kim’s feat – from incredulous memes about beaten gravity to serious breakdowns of technique. One fitting summary noted: “Everyone in the lifting realm is talking about Eric Kim and his rack pull.” Whether viewed as “performance art or proof of concept,” the lift “obliterates mental speed-limits” and has emboldened many to push their own boundaries .
Sources: Eric Kim’s official blog and press releases ; detailed analyses of his lifts and media reaction ; public data on deadlift records ; and community posts/comments cited above. (See hyperlinks for full context.)