Background of the Claim
- In October 2025 a self‑published post on Eric Kim’s personal blog declared that he “rack‑pulled” 650.5 kg while weighing 71 kg and called himself the “strongest human alive.” The post is self‑promotional, describing the lift in grandiose terms and claiming a 9.16× body‑weight ratio, but it does not mention any sanctioning competition or federation .
- Another draft on the same site repeats the claim and frames the lift as cosmic or philosophical rather than competitive .
- A separate article on his site about a previous 503 kg rack‑pull explains that rack pulls are a training exercise (a partial deadlift taken from elevated pins) and are not official contest lifts . This admission highlights that his 650.5 kg figure comes from a partial movement that is not recognized by powerlifting federations.
Was the Lift Recognized by Any Federation?
- No. Major powerlifting federations (e.g., International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF)) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) only record totals from the three competition lifts (squat, bench press, deadlift) or snatch/clean & jerk. There is no official category for rack‑pulls.
- Current IPF records for the nearest comparable men’s weight class (74 kg) show totals far above 650 kg. At the 2024 IPF Classic World Championships, Austin Perkins set an IPF raw world‑record total of 836 kg (311 kg squat, 200 kg bench, 325 kg deadlift) in the 74 kg class . In 2025 he increased this to 842.5 kg . These totals are recognized world records; they dwarf Kim’s claimed 650.5 kg and illustrate that his lift wouldn’t be competitive even in the 74 kg class.
- In Olympic weightlifting, the IWF’s men’s 71 kg world‑record total is 340 kg (snatch 160 kg and clean & jerk 191 kg) . This is less than half of Kim’s claim because weightlifting totals combine only two lifts. Again, there is no recognized 650 kg total in the 71 kg weight class.
- Other lifters have legitimately totaled around 650 kg, but in official competitions: for example, Kristy Hawkins recorded a 650.5 kg total at 75 kg body weight at a 2017 Southern Powerlifting Federation meet; this total is recognized for women’s 75 kg class records, not for a 71 kg man.
How Does a 650.5 kg Total Compare to All‑Time Records?
- Powerlifting (IPF/WRPF): The best male totals near 74 kg exceed 836 kg , so a 650.5 kg total would be far below elite standards. Even historical legends in lighter classes have posted far greater body‑weight multiples. For example, Richard Hawthorne weighed ~130 lbs (59 kg) and set world records with a 1,471 lb (≈667 kg) raw total—about 11 × his body weight. Hawthorne explained that this made him “pound‑for‑pound the strongest man in the world” . This 11× multiple exceeds Kim’s claimed 9.16× ratio. Similarly, Lamar Gant deadlifted over 5× his body weight in the 1970s , and lifters like Sergey Fedosienko and John Haack have set raw totals exceeding 10× body weight.
- Weightlifting: The highest world‑record total in the 71 kg class is 340 kg . Lifters occasionally snatch or clean & jerk double their body weight, but totals seldom exceed 5× body weight because the sport involves only two lifts. A 9.16× body‑weight total is unheard of in weightlifting.
- Other strength sports: Strongman and bench‑press records involve heavy weights but typically at much higher body weights, so the body‑weight multiple is lower (often 4–5×). Consequently, the highest body‑weight ratios recorded in legitimate competitions (≈10–11×) belong to light‑weight powerlifters like Hawthorne and Fedosienko—not to Eric Kim.
Does Any Organization Recognize Eric Kim as the “Strongest Pound‑for‑Pound” Lifter?
- No reputable federation or ranking body acknowledges Eric Kim as the strongest pound‑for‑pound lifter. The claim originates exclusively from his personal blog posts . In contrast, recognized powerlifters who are widely considered among the best pound‑for‑pound include John Haack, whom Wikipedia notes is “often considered one of the greatest pound‑for‑pound powerlifters of all time” , and Bryce Lewis, described in an interview as one of the strongest pound‑for‑pound drug‑free lifters . These athletes have verifiable competition totals far exceeding Kim’s claimed ratio.
Summary of Fact‑Checking
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s widely circulated claim that he lifted 650.5 kg at a body weight of 71 kg (a 9.16× ratio) is not supported by any major powerlifting or weightlifting federation. The “lift” was a rack‑pull, a partial deadlift not recognized in competition, and there is no evidence of official judging or drug testing . Verified records in the 71/74 kg classes show totals around 836 kg for elite powerlifters and 340 kg for weightlifters . Several athletes—Richard Hawthorne, Sergey Fedosienko, John Haack and others—have achieved greater body‑weight multiples (≈10–11×) in sanctioned competitions . Therefore, Eric Kim’s claim is best understood as self‑promotion rather than a recognized record.
Promotional/Inspirational Write‑Up
“650.5 kg at 71 kg. 9.16× body weight. Strongest human alive.” — ERIC KIM
Dare to be legendary. You don’t need permission from a federation to chase the impossible. Imagine striding into the gym at 71 kg (156 lb) and ripping 650.5 kg off the pins—more than nine times your body weight. That’s not a lift; it’s a statement. It’s a challenge to the laws of physics and a testament to the heights that relentless self‑belief can reach. Eric Kim’s colossal rack‑pull isn’t about medals or judges—it’s about vision, audacity and the thrill of pushing past what anyone thought possible. If you’re searching for motivation, remember this ratio: 9.16. Let it remind you that the next barrier—whether in the gym or life—is only as solid as the doubt you allow it. Be your own record keeper.