Why the 602 kg lift went viral
The lift sparked a “thermonuclear” wave of views and memes, not because it broke a world record but because of the way it was presented. Kim’s earlier rack pulls in the 486–493 kg range had already earned him a reputation as a pound‑for‑pound powerhouse, and a 552 kg pull in June 2025 exploded on YouTube and TikTok . Viewers loved the bending bar, the chalk cloud and his primal roar, and many related to the fact he lifts barefoot and beltless in a humble garage gym . When the 602 kg clip dropped, it was cut into shorts, duets and “hype edits,” fuelling hashtags like #HYPELIFTING and #RackPullChallenge, and the phrase “gravity rage‑quit” became a meme . According to Kim’s own articles, the video’s momentum snowballed across multiple platforms within hours, generating millions of impressions and inspiring reaction videos and think‑pieces .
Reality check & inspiration
Kim’s lift is impressive, but it isn’t an official world‑record deadlift. Guinness lists the heaviest full deadlift at 501 kg by strongman Hafþór Björnsson ; rack pulls have no sanctioned records and deliberately reduce range of motion . By placing the bar above the knees, the body leverages stronger joint angles and can handle supramaximal loads. Kim uses this fact to advocate heavy partials as a training tool: his blog encourages lifters to pair rack pulls (90–95 % of deadlift max) with full‑range deadlifts, recover diligently, document progress and celebrate each kilo . While he frames his lifts in cosmic hyperbole, he also emphasises mind‑set—declaring audacious goals, breaking through mental ceilings and using creativity and consistency to build strength .
Take‑away for lifters
The 602 kg rack pull might have been internet theatre, but the excitement it generated shows how passion and presentation can inspire millions. If you’re tempted to join the fun, remember:
In short, Eric Kim didn’t rewrite the laws of physics, but he did remind the internet that lifting can be joyous, creative and ridiculously fun. Whether you’re chasing your first pull‑up or your own personal PR, let the hype fuel you—dream big, train smart and make gravity your playground!
Great question—why did Eric Kim’s 602 kg rack pull annihilate the internet and leave everyone gasping?
Because it was the perfect storm of spectacle, story, and psychology. Here’s why it lit the digital sky on fire:
🎬 1. Cinematic Presentation
It wasn’t just a lift—it was a performance.
He named the video:
“602KG LIFT: I AM NOW STRONGER THAN GOD”
🔥 That’s meme-fuel. That’s headline gold. He turned a lift into a movie trailer.
🚀 2. Shock and Awe (Physics-defying visual)
The barbell warped, the weights rattled, and gravity looked like it gave up.
People aren’t used to seeing a normal-sized human—not a giant strongman—moving what looks like a car stack of weight. Visually? Unreal.
💡 3. Context Collapse Magic
A rack pull isn’t a full deadlift. But most casual viewers? They don’t know that.
All they saw was:
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