Eric Kim (≈71 kg) has shattered conventional strength standards with a string of partial deadlift (rack-pull) feats. In 2025 he progressed from mid-range rack pulls (~602 kg) to world‑shocking loads. His recent lifts include ~602 kg (mid‑2025, ~9.0× BW) , then 650.5 kg on Oct 1, 2025 (9.16×) , 678 kg on Oct 14 (≈9.54×) , and finally 723.4 kg (1,595 lb) in mid‑October (10.19×) . These are all mid‑thigh rack pulls (bar on safety pins) – not full deadlifts – allowing far heavier loads by minimizing ROM and torque . In other words, he’s capitalizing on extreme leverage rather than competing lifts.
• Key recent lifts:
• ~602 kg rack pull (mid‑2025, ~9×BW)
• 650.5 kg @71 kg (9.16×) – Oct 1, 2025
• 678 kg @71 kg (≈9.5×) – Oct 14, 2025
• 723.4 kg @71 kg (≈10.2×) – Oct 2025
Training, Diet and Leverage Strategies
Eric follows a highly unconventional “hyper-lifting” regimen. He micro-loads every session – adding tiny plates (≈1–2.5 lb per side) each time – and usually performs just one all‑out rack pull per week . He often trains fasted, eats a carnivore-style high‑meat diet, and prioritizes long sleep (8–12 hours) for recovery . He also avoids heavy lifting suits or straps: he lifts essentially raw, using only a dip belt with a chain at mid‑thigh height to maximize hip leverage . In practice this means the bar barely moves (~10–20 cm) – essentially a heavy isometric lockout – and he braces his body against the rack at the top . These tactics sharply shorten the moment arms at his hips and knees, so that “absolute load capacity rises even though mechanical work (force×distance) is much lower” .
• Progression methods: Kaizen micro‑loading + one brutal single per week (e.g. from ~710 lb to 1,000+ lb in <18 months ).
• Diet & recovery: Fasted training, beef-heavy dinners, 8–12 hr sleep .
• Gear: No suit or figure‑8 straps; uses dip belt + chain at mid-thigh for leverage, lifting straps and chalk .
• Biomechanics: Bar fixed on high pins above knees, feet vertical – this reduces hip/knee torque >60% and turns the pull into a near-isometric hold .
These strategies let Kim handle extraordinary loads despite his small frame. As one analysis notes, because the moment arms are so short, a 723 kg rack pull might equate biomechanically to a ~450–480 kg full deadlift at lockout – still extreme, but within the realm of elite partial‑lift strength. In short, Kim leverages physics to bend “strength laws” (e.g. his 723 kg at 71 kg is akin to a 200 kg man pulling 2,000 kg under normal scaling ).
Rate of Progress & Future Projections
Kim’s pace of improvement has been astonishing. In late 2024 he was hitting ~905–910 lb (≈410–413 kg) rack pulls , but by Oct 2025 he reached 723 kg – a 76% increase in under a year. Analysis shows he jumped from ~710 lb to over 1,000 lb in <18 months , validating his rapid micro-loading approach. If he continues innovating, many observers (including his own team) think 20× could be closer than it seems.
In fact, Eric’s team has even sketched a phased roadmap. They expect “hyper-leverage stacking” breakthroughs every ~6 months, aiming for a 12× lift (~852 kg) by mid‑2026 and ~15× by late 2026 . Their hyper-mode timeline goes further: 18× by mid‑2027 and 20× (~1,420 kg) by ~Feb 2028 . In their words, “20× isn’t a 10-year dream – it’s a 3-year inevitability” given exponential, AI‑driven training . The key assumption is continued technique gains (new pin heights, body positions, etc.) as sketched in [35].
Of course, physics isn’t on our side. Experts caution that doubling his 10× lift is far beyond normal human scaling . In lay terms, only the “zero-friction position” – a perfect biomechanical stance – would make a 1,420 kg pull remotely plausible . So even while this hype roadmap is motivational, achieving 20× will require unprecedented breakthroughs in leverage, equipment, and neuromuscular training. Still, Kim’s track record suggests he won’t stop defying expectations anytime soon.
Projected Timeline
Taking both his past momentum and bold forecasts into account, a realistic-but-ambitious prediction might place a 20× rack pull in the mid-to-late 2020s. For example, Kim’s own projections have him hitting 20× (~1,420 kg) by early 2028 . Key dates from his hyper-mode plan include:
• 2025.10 – 10.2× already achieved .
• 2026.04 – ~12× bodyweight target .
• 2026.12 – ~15× target .
• 2027.08 – ~18× target .
• 2028.02 – ~20× pull (~1,420 kg) .
These goals are “high‑octane optimistic” and assume continuous innovation. Even if delays occur, Kim’s narrative around “novel leverage positions” and relentless microloading implies that he’ll keep pushing the envelope. In summary, if his exponential curve continues, a 20× lift could arrive within ~2–3 years from now – a timeline he himself has laid out .
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s lifts already rewrite the powerlifting playbook . While 20× bodyweight remains a radical goal, his trajectory – double-digit multiples in months – is unlike any other lifter’s. By combining diligent small-step training with maximal leverage (and even AI analytics), Kim is charting a path few thought possible. In his own hype, “the moment the laws of the universe crumbled” gave way to each new PR . If he keeps innovating every few months, a 20× rack pull could plausibly come by late 2027–2028 . In the end, whether or not the date holds, Eric’s journey is already inspiring others to chase “impossible” goals – proving that the only true limit is how far you dare to imagine it .
Sources: Official lift reports, Eric Kim’s blog and social posts, and detailed analyses .