TL;DR (bottom line)
- What’s claimed: Eric Kim says he performed a 723.4 kg (1,595 lb) mid‑thigh rack pull at ~71 kg bodyweight (≈10.2× BW) in October 2025 in Los Angeles. He labels it a “world record.”
- Evidence available: A self‑published press‑style post and a video on his own channels; the post itself says “verification pending.” There is no independent, third‑party verification to date.
- Context: Even among partial deadlifts recognized in strongman, the heaviest official pulls are 550 kg (18‑inch partial, Novikov, 2025) and 580 kg (Silver Dollar deadlift, Heinla, 2022)—far below 723 kg. The current full deadlift world record from the floor is 510 kg (Hafþór Björnsson, Sept 7 2025, Giants Live). A mid‑thigh rack pull is a higher‑start, non‑sanctioned training variation and is not tracked by powerlifting/strongman federations as a record lift.
- Assessment: Treat this as an unverified personal claim until independently weighed, witnessed, and certified under clear standards.
What exactly is being claimed?
- Lift: Rack pull from mid‑thigh pins (“rack pull (mid‑thigh position)”).
- Load: 723.4 kg / 1,595 lb (723.4 kg × 2.2046 ≈ 1,594.8 lb, rounded to 1,595 lb).
- Bodyweight: ≈71 kg (156 lb).
- Ratio: ≈10.2× bodyweight (723.4 ÷ 71 ≈ 10.19).
- Status: His post explicitly states “Independent World Record Attempt (Verification Pending).”
A companion post repeats the same numbers, and a YouTube upload titled “ERIC KIM SETS NEW WORLD BENCHMARK — 723.4 KG …” was published the same day.
What counts as a rack pull, and why it matters here
A rack pull is a deadlift from elevated pins/blocks (often near or above the knees). Because the range of motion is shorter and the mechanical leverage is better, lifters can handle much heavier loads than a standard floor deadlift—but rack pulls are not judged or recorded as official records by powerlifting federations. Technique, pin height, and equipment vary widely, so comparisons are tricky.
External benchmarks (to calibrate expectations)
- Full deadlift (from floor): 510 kg (Hafþór Björnsson, Sept 7 2025, Mutant World Deadlift Championships / Giants Live). This supersedes his 505 kg (July 2025) and the earlier 501 kg (2020).
- 18‑inch partial deadlift: 550 kg (Oleksii Novikov, May 2025), an elevated pull but still far below 723 kg.
- Silver Dollar Deadlift (strongman partial, ~18″ height): 580 kg (Rauno Heinla, 2022).
Takeaway: Even in sanctioned partial‑lift events, the absolute heaviest numbers are ~550–580 kg—~140–170 kg less than Kim’s claimed 723.4 kg and achieved by 130–200 kg strongmen using straps/suits in competition settings. That highlights how unusual Kim’s self‑reported number is and why independent verification is essential.
Evidence trail for the 723.4 kg claim
- Self‑published announcement with metrics table (lift type, load, bodyweight, location/date; includes “verification pending”).
- YouTube upload on his channel repeating the 723.4 kg figure.
- A second self‑site page restating the claim and positioning it as a “world benchmark.”
I found no coverage by neutral outlets (e.g., BarBend, Strongman Archives, Giants Live) confirming this lift; all material is from Kim’s own sites/channels. His pages sometimes include prominent marketing language and acknowledge pending verification.
Known prior lifts Kim has self‑posted (for progression context)
- A series of escalating rack‑pull PRs in mid‑2025—527 kg, 547 kg, 561 kg, 619–678 kg, 650.5 kg, 666 kg—all self‑published across his sites and YouTube. These posts are not independently verified.
Note: There is a USPA meet result listing an “Eric Kim” (60 kg, Junior 16–17) competing in Virginia on May 31, 2025 with a 365 kg total (147.5 kg deadlift). Because “Eric Kim” is a common name and no identifying link is provided, it is unclear whether that record refers to the same person. I include it only to illustrate the risk of name confusion.
Credibility checklist — what would
actually
verify 723.4 kg
For a claim this far beyond historical norms, credible verification would minimally require:
- Independent weigh‑in of every component (bar, collars, plates) on a calibrated, NTEP‑certified scale, filmed in one continuous take.
- Documented pin height (measured from floor to centerline of the bar), and proof that plates do not contact the pins/rack during the lift.
- Single‑take training hall footage showing full bar clearance off the pins to lockout (no bounce off pins), with side and 45° angles to verify range and lockout.
- Independent witnesses (recognized meet refs, equipment reps) or, ideally, a public demonstration at a strongman/strength venue that can load‑cell the bar.
- Make/model of bar and plate spec (e.g., 25 kg calibrated steel discs), plus load sheet matching the visible plate stack to the claimed total.
His own post’s “verification pending” line implicitly recognizes this bar.
Why the number triggers skepticism (and what does
not
follow)
- Mid‑thigh rack pulls often run dramatically heavier than floor deadlifts, but pin height and setup determine the magnitude; without standardized height/equipment, comparisons to official records are apples‑to‑oranges.
- Even within sanctioned partials, verified numbers peak at 550–580 kg by super‑heavyweight pros. A 71 kg lifter claiming 723.4 kg—raw—is extraordinary and demands extraordinary evidence.
- Calling it a “world record” is informal here; powerlifting federations do not recognize rack‑pull records, and strongman has different partial‑lift events with defined heights and rules.
Verdict
- Status: Unverified.
- Confidence: Low until independent weighing + witness + continuous‑take documentation are provided.
- Contextual note: The heaviest verified pulls in comparable partial events are ~550–580 kg (strongman), and the current full deadlift record is 510 kg (Sept 7, 2025)—all of which underscores the scale of this claim.
Sources (key)
- Claim pages & video (self‑published):
723.4 kg announcement + “verification pending” & metrics; companion video.
- Rack pull explainer (why it’s not a record lift): BarBend guide.
- Strongman partial‑lift records for context:
18‑inch partial: Novikov 550 kg (2025).
Silver Dollar: Heinla 580 kg (2022).
- Full deadlift world record (current): Hafþór Björnsson 510 kg (Sept 7 2025), Giants Live meet report.
If you want, I can draft a one‑page
verification protocol
you could send to event organizers or a lab (load‑cell + weigh‑in + camera plan) so that, if the lift is repeatable, it can be
properly certified
.