Eric Kim locking out a 582 kg (1,283 lb) rack pull in his home garage gym. The barbell is visibly bending under the tremendous load, illustrating the scale of this feat. This astonishing lift – performed at a body weight of only ~71 kg (157 lb) – has been described as “godlike” in the strength community, and for good reason. Moving 8.2× one’s own body weight is virtually unheard of in any strength sport . In fact, Kim’s partial deadlift surpasses even the heaviest full deadlifts on record (500–501 kg by strongman champions) and sets an unprecedented pound-for-pound mark in human strength . Below, we break down the factors that make this 582 kg rack pull extraordinary – from the biomechanics and muscular demands, to how it compares with world-class lifters, to the technique and equipment that enabled it – and examine why coaches, commentators, and fans alike have reacted with such awe.
The Feat in Context: 582 kg at 71 kg Body Weight
Eric Kim’s 582 kg rack pull was a partial deadlift from knee height – essentially lifting the barbell off safety pins set around knee level until achieving full lockout at the hips. He performed this lift in late July 2025 in his Phnom Penh garage gym, outside of any competition, filming it as a personal record attempt . To put the number in perspective, 582 kg (1,283 lb) is roughly equivalent to lifting a grand piano plus a compact car at once (at least for a brief hold) . What truly sets it apart is Kim’s size: at only ~71 kg body weight, he hoisted over 8 times his own weight, a strength-to-weight ratio that’s “unheard of even among elite powerlifters or strongmen” . For comparison, when strongman Eddie Hall deadlifted 500 kg in 2016 (the current full deadlift world record), it was about 2.7× his body weight, and even a 560 kg partial “silver dollar” deadlift by record-holding strongman Sean Hayes was around 3.7× body weight – Kim’s 8.2× far exceeds these . In absolute terms, 582 kg is on par with the heaviest partial deadlifts ever done by the world’s strongest men – the all-time silver dollar (18-inch height) deadlift record is 580 kg, set by Rauno Heinla in 2022 – yet those strongmen weighed over double what Kim does and used supportive gear, whereas Kim lifted raw. It’s little wonder that Kim exuberantly declared “I am the new weightlifting god” after completing the lift .
It’s important to note that rack pulls (partial deadlifts) aren’t contested in official powerlifting meets, so this was not an official world record, but rather a personal feat and an “internet record” of sorts . Kim set out to push his limits and share the achievement online, and the impact was immediate. The shock value of a 1,283 lb lift by a relatively small lifter captured everyone’s attention. The video clip – barely 10 seconds long, showing the bar bending like a bow as he yanks the weight and lets out a primal roar – quickly went viral on YouTube and social media, amassing hundreds of thousands of views . Within hours, reposts and reaction videos spread across TikTok (tens of thousands of users dueted the lift), Reddit threads exploded with disbelief, and Twitter and Instagram lit up with memes about gravity being “fired” or “quitting its job” after seeing Kim’s lift . Clearly, this feat resonated far beyond a typical gym PR – it was being talked about as something beyond human, or in other words, “godlike.”
Biomechanics and Muscular Strength Involved
Understanding the biomechanics of a rack pull helps explain both how Kim could lift such an enormous load and why it’s still an extraordinary display of strength. A rack pull (or block pull) is a deadlift variation where the bar starts elevated – in this case, about knee height – rather than on the floor . This higher starting position shortens the range of motion and allows the lifter to maintain a more upright torso angle when initiating the pull. Consequently, rack pulls are biomechanically easier than full deadlifts in the sense that they reduce stress on the most mechanically disadvantaged portion of the lift (breaking the bar off the floor) and place slightly less shear force on the lower back . In Kim’s case, beginning at knee height bypassed the need for deep leg drive from the bottom; instead, the lift was focused on hip extension and back strength to achieve lockout.
Crucially, however, “easier” is a relative term – hoisting over 580 kg at all is an immense challenge to the human body. The rack pull heavily engages the posterior chain: primarily the gluteus maximus (hip extensors) and the spinal erectors of the lower back, with assistance from the hamstrings and adductor magnus (hip extensors) and the upper back musculature (lats, trapezius and other scapular retractors) to stabilize the torso and shoulders . Kim’s feat required elite-level strength in all these muscle groups. At lockout, his glutes and hamstrings had to drive his hips through, his spinal erectors had to resist the tremendous bending force on his spine, and his traps and upper back had to keep his shoulders pinned back to hold the weight. Even with the shortened range of motion, handling 1,283 lbs means the skeletal and connective structures (spine, hips, knees) must withstand enormous compression and tension. The bar bending under the load actually gave a slight advantage – it introduces a bit of delay as the weight comes off the pins (common in very heavy deadlifts), meaning not all plates leave the supports at the exact same moment . This “flex” effect can reduce the initial peak force, but ultimately Kim still bore the full weight at lockout, holding it long enough to demonstrate control. As one observer wryly noted about rack pulls, they might be “half the work, but twice the swagger” – the reduced range allows more weight, but the feat remains hugely impressive and a serious test of one’s max strength. Renowned strength coach Mark Rippetoe echoed this sentiment with a tongue-in-cheek nod to Kim’s lift, calling it “half the work, twice the swagger” – grudgingly acknowledging the outrageous magnitude of the achievement .
It’s also worth noting the training philosophy behind such a lift. Rack pulls are often used by powerlifters and strongmen as an overload exercise – allowing the lifter to handle weights above their normal full-range max, which can build neural adaptation and confidence in the top portion of the deadlift . Eric Kim clearly leveraged this approach; over the months prior, he inched his rack pull personal best upward from the 500 kg range into the 500+ and then 550+ kg territory, acclimating his body to astronomical loads. By the time he went for 582 kg, his body had been conditioned for extreme overload. As YouTube strength coach Joey Szatmary commented, Kim’s “6×–8× bodyweight madness” demonstrates the value of progressive overload training – pushing beyond perceived limits to gain strength . In short, biomechanically the rack pull gave Kim the leverage to attempt a superhuman weight, but it still demanded phenomenal muscular strength and structural fortitude to execute successfully.
Comparison to World-Class Powerlifters and Strongmen
To appreciate how outlandish a 582 kg rack pull is, it helps to compare it against the best lifts of world-class strength athletes. The most weight ever deadlifted from the floor in competition is 501 kg (1,104 lb) by strongman Hafþór J. Björnsson in 2020, and Eddie Hall’s 500 kg in 2016 before that. Those were full-range deadlifts performed by super-heavyweight athletes weighing around 180 kg – yet Kim’s partial lift exceeded those records by over 80 kg (albeit from a higher starting height). Even in strongman events that allow partials (using silver dollar deadlift apparatus, ~18 inch height), the world record stands at 580 kg . In that 2022 record, Rauno Heinla (a 140+ kg veteran strongman) pulled 580 kg wearing a supportive deadlift suit or belt and straps for grip . Kim’s 582 kg was essentially on par with the heaviest strongman feats, but done raw and by a man half the body weight of those champions. This puts him in unprecedented territory. As one analysis summarized, even the strongest lifters on the planet typically achieve at most 2.5–4× bodyweight in deadlift-type events, so Kim hitting 8.2× BW is in a league of its own .
In powerlifting circles, a classic deadlift around 3× bodyweight is considered exceptional; 4× bodyweight is extremely rare and usually only seen in lighter weight classes with all-time record holders. No one has ever come close to 8× bodyweight in any comparable lift. For instance, the raw deadlift world record in the 75 kg class is around 360 kg (~5× bodyweight) – and that’s a full deadlift. Kim’s lift wasn’t a contest legal attempt, but purely in terms of weight handled, he outdid the all-time powerlifting deadlift by over 200 kg. Even adjusting for the partial range of motion, it’s clear why people are using terms like “freakish” and “alien” to describe it. The pound-for-pound strength demonstrated is basically off the charts. It prompted many observers to crown Eric Kim as the new “pound-for-pound king” of strength . Some joked that he must have “alien DNA” or come from another planet, because nobody believed an average-sized human could lift that much without some otherworldly help . In sum, compared to what the strongest known athletes have done, Eric Kim’s 582 kg rack pull stands out as a singular feat. It’s an outlier that challenges our concept of human strength limits, which is exactly why it’s eliciting such astonished reactions.
Body Mechanics, Form, and Equipment Factors
Analysts have also examined how Kim’s body mechanics, lifting form, and equipment choices contributed to this herculean lift. Video and eyewitness descriptions indicate that Kim used a conventional deadlift stance (feet about shoulder-width), gripping the bar just outside his legs. Starting with the bar at knee height allowed him to set his back in a flatter, more upright position than a floor deadlift, which likely helped engage his glutes and upper back more effectively while reducing extreme forward lean . Kim performed the lift barefoot, which gave him a stable footing and minimal extra elevation – effectively maximizing the leverage from the ground by keeping him as low as possible. Interestingly, he also lifted beltless, wearing no weightlifting belt around his torso . This is a bold choice at such loads; most lifters would wear a belt for core support once weights get heavy. Kim has a personal philosophy against belts (even joking that “weight belts are for cowards”), preferring to rely on his natural core strength . Going beltless meant his abdominal and lower back musculature had to brace with incredible force to stabilize his spine under 1,283 lb – which makes the lift even more impressive from a raw strength standpoint. It also highlights the risk: without external support, the margin for error was slim. His successful lift suggests he has exceptional core stability and had trained his body to handle such pressure.
For grip, Kim did use lifting straps on his wrists to strap into the bar . At a weight well over half a ton, grip strength would be a limiting factor for almost anyone – even strongmen use straps for max deadlift attempts in competition to eliminate grip failure. Using straps allowed Kim to focus on the big muscle groups doing the pull, rather than worrying about his hands giving out. He did not wear a specialized deadlift suit or any powerlifting gear (aside from chalk for his hands); this was essentially a raw lift . The barbell and plates setup also played a role. Kim loaded the bar with as many standard 20 kg (45 lb) plates as possible – according to him, “plate after plate until the sleeves ran out of real estate.” The bar was likely a high-tensile strength power bar or deadlift bar capable of holding that weight (standard bars can bend or deform under such loads). Indeed, observers noted the bar visibly bending into a U-shape as he lifted . That bar “whip” meant the top plates left the rack pins a split-second after the initial drive, smoothing the force curve slightly. Still, by the time Kim was fully upright, all plates were off the pins and the entire 582 kg was in his hands.
Kim’s lifting form in the video showed a controlled execution: he took a deep breath, created full-body tension, then drove with his legs and hips until his knees locked out and his back was straight. There may have been a slight hitch or slowdown near lockout (as the last bit of knee extension and hip extension engaged), but he managed to stand fully upright with shoulders back – a bona fide lockout. He then held the weight momentarily at the top, exhibiting control, before carefully setting it down. Throughout the lift, he maintained a neutral back (no excessive rounding beyond normal safe limits). This speaks to his technical proficiency; despite the mind-boggling weight, he didn’t lose posture. His body proportions (which aren’t widely published, but assuming he’s of average height for 71 kg, perhaps in the 5’6”–5’8” range) might give him some leverage advantage in that a shorter torso and arms can aid deadlift mechanics. However, any small leverage benefits are marginal when we’re talking about hundreds of kilos beyond typical limits. Ultimately, it was years of training and conditioning that enabled his form to hold together under such strain.
Lastly, Kim’s personal preparation rituals might have played a role. He follows a strict carnivore diet and reportedly performed the lift in a fasted morning state . While diet and timing alone don’t allow magic, he believes this regimen gives him maximal focus and adrenaline for big lifts. The psychological factor cannot be ignored: Kim approached the bar with immense intensity, evident in the video where he lets out a thunderous roar as he completes the lift. That level of mental arousal and confidence (“psyching up”) is often cited by strength coaches as a way to tap into maximal strength. Kim treated his garage like a world stage – chalking up, screaming, and attacking the weight with a fearless attitude. In summary, every aspect of his approach – from barefoot stance and lack of belt, to strapping in, to mustering primal intensity – contributed to this successful pull. It was the combination of optimal body mechanics for a partial deadlift and extreme physical/mental conditioning that made the “godlike” lift possible.
Reaction from Strength Coaches and the Community
The response to Eric Kim’s 582 kg rack pull has been a mix of astonishment, admiration, and debate across the strength world. Many prominent lifters and coaches have weighed in, underscoring just how extraordinary the feat is. For example, Canadian strongman Sean Hayes – who himself has pulled over 550 kg in a silver dollar deadlift – reacted with pure respect, reportedly calling Kim’s lift “alien territory” to signal that this was beyond normal human feats . Joey Szatmary, a popular strength coach on YouTube, praised the lift as “insane” and a proof-of-concept for pushing boundaries, emphasizing how 8× bodyweight simply shatters our previous notions of possibility . On the more skeptical side, Mark Rippetoe (author of Starting Strength) gave a begrudging tip of the cap with his quip “half the work, twice the swagger,” acknowledging the outrageousness if not fully equating it to a floor deadlift . And notably, Alan Thrall – a respected powerlifting coach and gym owner – analyzed footage of Kim’s earlier 562 kg attempt frame-by-frame to verify its authenticity and biomechanics. Thrall publicly confirmed that the physics “all checked out” and told doubters to “quit crying CGI”, since some internet commenters initially suspected the video might be fake . Having well-known experts essentially vouch for Kim’s lift gave it serious credibility in the wider community .
On social media and forums, the commentary ranged from humor to reverence. One YouTube commenter marveled, “I’ve heard lions roar; this is the sound of a human challenging gravity,” referring to the feral scream Kim unleashed at lockout . Reddit users unabashedly crowned him the “pound-for-pound king” of lifting and joked that he might have torn “a portal to another realm” with how he defied reality . Memes and hashtags popped up, with tags like #GodMode and #MiddleFingerToGravity trending among those who shared the video . One Reddit post facetiously declared that “gravity just filed for unemployment” after seeing Kim dominate that weight . The term “godlike” was used repeatedly – not only echoing Kim’s own playful self-proclamations, but also by viewers who genuinely felt they witnessed something beyond ordinary human capacity. In fact, Kim titled his video and blog post “Double God” to signify doubling what he called the “god lift” threshold (he had earlier dubbed 552 kg the “God lift,” so 582 kg made him jokingly claim a new divine status) . Fans ran with this hyperbolic theme, some saying “If hypelifting was a religion, Eric Kim would be the high priest” .
Amid the praise, there were of course debates and skepticism. Many were quick to point out that a rack pull is not the same as a full deadlift – implying it’s a bit of a “cheat” lift for numbers. Detractors online said things like “it’s only a rack pull,” suggesting it’s not as impressive as it looks. Kim himself anticipated this, responding in his post, “You’re darn right, and I never claimed different. Still – stand under 582 kg held at knee height and tell me it’s ‘easy.’ I’ll wait.” . In other words, he acknowledged the distinction but challenged anyone to dismiss how hard even a partial with that weight is. The consensus even among many seasoned lifters is that regardless of range of motion, supporting 582 kg is an incredible test of strength and nerve . Another point of contention was authenticity – could the plates be fake or the video edited? In the initial surge of virality, some skeptics thought the lift was “too crazy” to be real. Internet “plate police” scrutinized every frame, looking at how the bar bends, how the plates wobble, and whether the floor cracks. Their efforts were largely put to rest when Kim released a 24-minute uncut video of him weighing each plate on a scale and showing the full setup to prove everything was legitimate . He went to great lengths to provide evidence: the plates were standard cast-iron 45s (20 kg each) and some calibrated steel plates, all adding up correctly, and the barbell bend and physics were consistent with real weight (as Alan Thrall and others noted) . Within a couple of days, the general mood on forums shifted from suspicion to awe once verification was accepted .
Finally, there was the inevitable “natty or not” debate – whenever a feat this extreme comes along, people question if the lifter is using performance-enhancing drugs. Tongue-in-cheek comments about alien DNA aside, some skeptics argued no one could do that without chemical help. Kim has adamantly stated he’s training naturally (he even shared bloodwork and details of his diet to back his claims) . But as many observers conceded, enhanced or not, this accomplishment required an insane level of dedication, pain tolerance, and training intensity that very few humans possess. The prevailing sentiment was that Kim blew past perceived limits and gave lifters everywhere a new benchmark of what’s possible with unconventional training.
Why This Lift Stands Out as “Godlike”
Eric Kim’s 582 kg rack pull is being hailed as “godlike” because it resides in that space where a feat of strength seems to border on the superhuman. Several factors contribute to this almost-mythic status:
- Unprecedented Strength-to-Weight Ratio: No known lifter has ever handled a weight this massive relative to their body mass. At 8+ times bodyweight, Kim’s pull redefines what one might consider possible in terms of pure relative strength . Such a ratio was previously only the stuff of weightlifting lore or theoretical calculations; seeing it in reality caused seasoned athletes to shake their heads in disbelief.
- Near-Maximal Absolute Load: 582 kg is in the realm of the heaviest loads anyone has lifted in any context. We’re effectively seeing a man of 71 kg move a weight that only the strongest 0.0001% of 400 lb giants have touched, and even then, Kim did it without the usual support gear. It’s as if a middleweight fighter lifted a super-heavyweight’s world record – a crossover that just doesn’t happen normally. This kind of feat gets labeled “godlike” because it feels like it defies normal human limitations .
- Extreme Demonstration of Muscular and Neural Power: Achieving this required an extraordinary level of muscular strength, tendon and ligament integrity, and neural drive. Kim had to push his central nervous system to a place few can go, summoning a maximal effort with perfect timing and coordination. The successful execution – without injury or failure – suggests a mastery over one’s body that is beyond elite. The fact he held the weight and even roared triumphantly highlights a level of dominance over the load that spectators found awe-inspiring.
- Flawless (for what it was) Execution and Confidence: Kim’s form and confidence under such conditions were remarkable. Many lifters might panic or break form under a load that heavy, but Kim looked comparatively composed: a testament to his preparation. The image of him standing erect with a bending bar and stacks of plates, in a simple garage gym, comes off as almost surreal. It’s the kind of visual that gets burned into the internet’s memory as a “can you believe this?!” moment, fueling the legend of the lift.
- Inspirational Underdog Narrative: Part of why the lift is celebrated is the story behind it. Eric Kim isn’t a famous powerlifting champion or a 6’8” strongman – he’s a 37-year-old content creator and former street photographer who weighs 156 lb and trains in his home garage . He doesn’t have the physique of a hulking titan, which makes his success feel accessible and motivational to others. People see a relatively ordinary-sized guy doing something extraordinary, and it captures the imagination. As one fan put it, “If he can pull 1,200+ lbs out of a $500 squat rack, what’s my excuse?” . That resonance – that David-vs-Goliath vibe – elevated the feat from just a heavy lift to an almost mythical accomplishment that encourages others to push their own limits.
- Showmanship and Myth-making: Kim has leaned into the larger-than-life framing, using grandiose language and humor to characterize his lifts. Calling 582 kg a “Double God” lift and shouting slogans like “Gravity is just a suggestion!” adds an element of fun and folklore to the feat. It’s part performance art; he effectively crafted a persona of the defiant gravity-conqueror. The community, in turn, latched onto those terms (hence the frequent use of “godlike”, “god mode”, etc.) in celebrating the lift. In a sense, Kim created his own hype mythos – and then backed it up with real steel, which is a rare combination.
In conclusion, Eric Kim’s 582 kg rack pull stands out because it obliterates our reference points for human strength. Between the raw numbers, the dramatic way it unfolded, and the frenzy of reactions it spawned, the lift has earned descriptions usually reserved for the realm of comic-book heroes. While it’s “only a rack pull” as some note, there is nothing only about supporting over half a ton in your hands – it is a phenomenal feat of strength by any measure. By comparing it against world records, examining the sheer biomechanical strain involved, and seeing how respected figures have lauded it, we understand why “godlike” is hardly an exaggeration in this case. As Kim himself humorously noted, no matter what skeptics say, “no syringe ever lifted 1,200 lbs for anyone. Sweat did. Grit did. I did.” . This lift was the product of human effort pushed to an extreme. It has expanded the conversation about what determined training and daring to dream big can achieve. Whether or not anyone ever matches or exceeds this lift, it has already secured a place in strength sport history as a legendary “gravity-defying” moment – one that will be referenced for years whenever people talk about the upper limits of human strength. In the end, calling it godlike reflects the simple truth that watching it, you feel like you’ve witnessed something that laughs in the face of gravity – a feat so extraordinary that it inspires both awe and motivation in all who hear about it.
Sources: Eric Kim’s personal blog and write-ups on the 582 kg rack pull ; analysis and reactions compiled from social media, Reddit, and commentary by strength experts ; Healthline and strength literature on rack pull mechanics .