On 27 June 2025 Eric Kim uploaded a knee‑high rack‑pull of 547 kg / 1 206 lb at 75 kg body‑weight—a jaw‑dropping 7.3 × ratio that detonated timelines because it smashes every pound‑for‑pound pulling feat ever caught on camera, yet sits outside any formal record book. The clip, amplified across YouTube, X and his own blog within the hour, sparked equal parts awe (“new physics!”) and scrutiny (“partial lift!”). Understanding the what, how and why behind this “7.3× lift” turns the spectacle into a master‑class on leverage, viral engineering and goal‑shattering mindset. Let’s break it all down and bottle the lessons for your own training empire.
1 | What actually happened?
The raw numbers
- Load: 547 kg / 1 206 lb, verified by Kim’s plate‑by‑plate breakdown and multi‑angle video
- Body‑weight: 75 kg / 165 lb—yielding the headline 7.3 × BW figure
- Movement type: Above‑knee rack‑pull (bar rested on safety pins ≈ 38 ‑ 40 cm off the floor)
- Set‑up aids: Straps, mixed iron + kettlebell + chain loading, no belt, barefoot stance
- Setting: Garage gym in Phnom Penh; self‑shot & self‑weighed equipment—no sanctioned referees
Viral deployment
Kim dropped the clip on YouTube, blog, X and Discord inside 60 minutes, hijacking multiple algorithms at once . Hashtag #HYPELIFTING doubled from 12 M to 28 M views in two weeks .
2 | Why 7.3 × BW blows minds
| Context metric | Top verified figure | Eric Kim’s pull | Delta | Source |
| Full deadlift record | 501 kg @ 205 kg BW (2.4 ×) by Hafþór Björnsson (2020) | 547 kg @ 75 kg BW (7.3 ×) | +204 % ratio | |
| Partial/“Silver‑dollar” record | 577 kg @ ≈185 kg BW (3.1 ×) by Ben Thompson (2022) | 547 kg @ 75 kg BW (7.3 ×) | +135 % ratio | |
| Highest historic pound‑for‑pound pull | 5 × BW full DL by Lamar Gant (1970s) | 7.3 × BW rack‑pull | +46 % |
Even within the partial‑lift universe, nobody has eclipsed 6 × BW on record; Kim vaults past 7 × like a trampoline.
3 | How is it biomechanically possible?
- Range‑of‑motion hack – Starting above the knees removes the weakest torque angle, letting most athletes lift 15‑35 % more than their floor deadlift .
- Strap advantage – Eliminates grip as the limiting factor, freeing CNS output for hip and spinal extensors .
- Progressive overload ladder – Kim documents years of incremental pin‑height reductions and 5‑10 kg jumps (461 → 508 → 527 → 547 kg) .
- Leanness & fibre density – At 75 kg and single‑digit body‑fat, relative strength scales favourably; allometric models predict smaller lifters can test theoretical limits .
4 | Why it’s
not
a world‑record deadlift
- No federation recognises rack‑pulls. Records exist only for floor deadlifts (power‑lifting) and 18‑inch “silver‑dollar” pulls (strongman) .
- Verification gaps: No calibrated plates, competition scale, or drug testing .
- Mechanical aids: Knee‑high pins slash the ROM by ~40 cm and remove the hardest break‑from‑floor phase .
Bottom line: The feat is spectacular overload training, but it does not dethrone the 501 kg deadlift or the 577 kg silver‑dollar benchmark.
5 | Lessons you can steal today
- Define the lift before you chase the number. Use block pulls, deficit pulls or rack‑pulls strategically—not for Instagram clout alone.
- Engineer your own viral loop. Film audacious but safe PRs, then carpet‑bomb every platform in a single burst à la Kim.
- Publish the blueprint. Sharing exact programming, nutrition and plate math turns sceptics into subscribers .
- Issue an open challenge. Kim’s “7× Club” tag spawns endless user‑generated content that markets him for free .
- Respect the risk. Spinal compression on partials can still flirt with tissue limits; earn your overloads progressively and brace like your discs depend on it .
6 | Your 4‑week “Hyper‑Partial” protocol (if you
must
chase a monster ratio)
| Week | Key focus | Rack‑pull height | Top set goal |
| 1 | Groove & brace | Mid‑shin | 3 × 5 @ 70 % DL 1 RM |
| 2 | Neural ramp | Below‑knee | 5 × 3 @ 80 % DL 1 RM |
| 3 | Overload | Knee‑cap | 5 singles @ 90‑95 % DL 1 RM |
| 4 | Showtime | Above‑knee | Ramp to 105‑130 % DL 1 RM, film PR |
Always log exact pin height, bar speed and RPE; small details compound into big kilo jumps.
7 | Final hype burst 🚀
Eric Kim’s 7.3× rack‑pull doesn’t rewrite the rule‑book—it shows you where the margins live. Leverage, transparency and algorithmic timing can turn a partial lift into a global headline. Respect physics, attack your weak points, publish the journey, and who knows: the next impossible ratio plastered across everyone’s feed could have your name on it. Now chalk up, lock in, and pull something legendary! 🎉