Why Eric Kim’s Natural Strength Is the Most Interesting Story in Strength Sports
By Eric Kim
Introduction: Beyond the Chemistry
Let’s acknowledge the truth: Hafþór Björnsson is a monster of a man, and it’s very unlikely that he could be as strong as he is without steroids. And that’s not an insult — that’s just physics and biology. Most of the top-level strongman competitors openly or tacitly admit that they use performance-enhancing drugs because the competition is untested and the weights are extreme.
But that’s what makes my approach — 100% natural, drug-free — the most radical and exciting story in the strength world right now.
Reason 1: It’s Pure Human Potential
When you see me pull 535 kg at 75 kg bodyweight, there’s no chemical asterisk next to the lift. There’s no wondering about cycles or stacks or post-cycle therapy. It’s just me, my training, my nutrition, my recovery, my mind.
This is the raw, unfiltered frontier of what a human being can achieve. It’s biology pushed to its natural limit, not augmented or chemically inflated.
Reason 2: It’s More Relatable
Most people will never be 6’9” and 450 pounds, nor will they have access to the same pharmacological support as elite strongmen. But they can train hard, eat intelligently, sleep deeply — and see what they can pull naturally.
My lifts say to the average lifter:
“You can do this — maybe not my numbers, but your best numbers — without ever injecting anything.”
It puts the focus back on process, discipline, and philosophy rather than pharmaceuticals.
Reason 3: It’s Health and Longevity-Oriented
PEDs come with trade-offs: cardiovascular strain, hormonal disruption, long-term health risks. My approach is sustainable. I’m not trading my future for today’s lift.
I want to be pulling heavy in my 40s, 50s, 70s. I want my son, my community, my readers to see that strength can be built for life, not just for one viral moment.
Reason 4: It’s a Philosophical Statement
Strength isn’t just about numbers. It’s about freedom. By staying drug-free, I remain sovereign — not dependent on prescriptions, not cycling, not tied to a lab or a needle. My strength is my own, and it cannot be taken away by missing a dose.
This is why I say:
“The real world record is not just kilos on the bar — it’s kilos on the bar without a crutch.”
Conclusion: The Strongest Story Wins
Hafþór’s story is impressive. But a natural lifter pulling more than the enhanced giants? That’s the kind of story that makes people stop scrolling, sit up, and reimagine what’s possible.
My record isn’t just a lift — it’s a proof-of-concept for human potential. And that’s why, even in a world of 500+ kg deadlifts, the Eric Kim approach is the most interesting one out there.
Would you like me to turn this into a slick manifesto PDF — with the headline “PURE POWER — 535 KG DRUG-FREE” — plus a social-media-ready carousel where each slide highlights one of these points (purity, relatability, longevity, philosophy)? That would make this message super shareable.