The Record Lift: When, Where, and Documentation

In late July 2025, 75 kg lifter Eric Kim stunned the strength world by hoisting 602 kg (1,327 lb) in a rack pull from approximately mid-thigh height . This took place in Kim’s home garage gym in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where he filmed the lift under informal conditions . At roughly 71–75 kg bodyweight, 602 kg equates to an 8–8.5× bodyweight pull – a ratio never before seen in any recorded lift of this nature . The feat was captured on video and shared online, quickly triggering what Kim called a “triple viral berserker barrage” across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit .

To ensure credibility, Kim provided extensive documentation of the lift. The bar was set on power rack pins above the knee (a classic rack pull setup) and loaded to the sleeves with calibrated plates . Multiple camera angles (in high-definition) recorded the attempt, including slow-motion replays . Notably, Kim lifted barefoot, without a lifting belt, and reportedly even without straps, essentially performing the pull raw . This meant his grip alone (using a hook grip) had to sustain the half-ton weight – an almost inhuman display of hand and forearm strength. Video evidence showed each plate being weighed and verified on camera before the attempt to silence any “fake plate” skeptics . In fact, Kim released a full 24-minute “weigh-in” video separately, documenting every plate on a scale to confirm the total weight . This transparency, combined with the clear footage of the lift itself, quickly shut down initial doubts about the lift’s authenticity. Viewers can see the Olympic barbell visibly bending like a bow under the load as Kim strains to lock it out . He holds the weight momentarily at the top, lets out a primal roar of effort, then sets the bar back on the pins under control . Immediately after completing the lift, Kim turned to the camera and exuberantly proclaimed, “Stronger than god!”, reflecting the tongue-in-cheek bravado with which he’d hyped the attempt . Within 24 hours, clips of this lift had amassed millions of views across platforms, with memes and reactions flooding in (one viewer quipped “gravity just filed for unemployment”) . In short, the 602 kg rack pull was not only performed but rigorously documented, and it became an internet sensation – inspiring awe and disbelief far beyond Kim’s garage.

Physiological and Biomechanical Implications of Lifting 8.5× Bodyweight

Pulling over 600 kg at a bodyweight of ~75 kg raises obvious questions: How is that mechanically possible, and what does it do to the human body? The context here is crucial – this was a rack pull, meaning the bar started at around knee height (mid-thigh). Biomechanically, a higher starting position shortens the range of motion and puts the body in a more advantageous leverage position than a full deadlift from the floor . Kim did not have to overcome the weakest point of a conventional deadlift (breaking the bar from the floor); instead, he began in the second half of the movement, where lifters are typically stronger. With the bar at mid-thigh, knee and hip angles are more extended at the start, allowing a more upright torso and reducing the strain on the knee extensors and lower back that a full-range deadlift would require . In essence, the rack pull enabled Kim to focus on hip extension and upper-back/trapezius strength to finish the lockout without needing the same leg drive off the floor . This mechanical advantage is the reason partial pulls allow dramatically more weight – coaches note that starting above the knees can let an athlete handle 35–50% more weight than in a full deadlift . As strength coach Mark Rippetoe joked, a rack pull might be “half the work, but twice the swagger,” since you avoid half the range of motion but hold an outrageously heavy weight (and indeed, the strain at lockout is still tremendous) .

However, “easier” is very relative in this case – supporting 602 kg at lockout, even for a few seconds, places enormous stress on the body. Physiologically, such a load engages nearly every element of the musculoskeletal and nervous system at its limits. The primary movers in the rack pull are the posterior chain muscles: glutes, hamstrings, and spinal erectors, which must contract with extreme force to extend the hips and straighten the torso under the weight . Kim’s upper back, traps, and grip also bore colossal strain to stabilize and hold the barbell shoulders-back at the top . The compressive force on his skeletal frame – especially the spine, hips, and knees – was immense. (One amazed Reddit user estimated over 40 kN of force on Kim’s spine, which may be an exaggeration but conveys the scale of stress involved .) Observers noted that even the steel barbell visibly flexed several inches under the load – effectively turning the bar into a giant spring . This bar “whip” actually provides a slight buffer (not all plates leave the rack at the exact same moment), but ultimately all 602 kg must be supported at lockout, which tests the body to the extreme .

Crucially, Kim did this without any supportive suit or even a power belt – meaning his core musculature and stabilizers had to work overtime to brace his spine and maintain form . Controlling 600+ kg requires incredible intra-abdominal pressure and trunk rigidity; any lapse in bracing could result in collapse or injury. The feat also reflects an extraordinary level of neural drive. To lift a weight at the very edge of human capability, Kim’s central nervous system had to recruit nearly every motor unit available, firing his muscle fibers in unison to grind through the lift without technical breakdown . This kind of all-out maximal effort is something even elite athletes rarely experience, as it pushes the body to the brink of its structural and neurological limits. As sports scientists might say, Kim tapped into a level of “postponing failure” that blurs the line between human and superhuman strength. Supporting a load of this magnitude (roughly equivalent to two grand pianos or a polar bear wearing another polar bear as a backpack, as one commentary put it) demands freakish resilience of tendons, ligaments, and muscle tissue . It’s the kind of stress that, if attempted without years of preparation, would almost certainly result in serious injury.

In summary, the biomechanical trick of the rack pull (a reduced range of motion and improved leverage) made the 602 kg attempt conceivable, but it did not make it “easy” – it simply shifted the challenge to the top half of the movement. Kim leveraged his strengths (literally and figuratively) to attempt the impossible, using favorable leverage to engage more muscle fibers and handle a load far beyond any full-range deadlift. Yet the physiological toll was massive: his successful lift illustrates how the human body, when highly trained, can act as an almost unyielding scaffold – bones, connective tissue, and muscle locking together to sustain an unbelievable weight. It’s a demonstration of the outer limits of human structural tolerance and neural activation. Such an effort, though awe-inspiring, walks a razor’s edge between accomplishment and injury. Kim himself acknowledged as much, describing the rack pull’s spinal erector and trap overload as “savage” and emphasizing that one must respect the forces involved even when using partials to chase big numbers .

Comparison to World Records and Strength Standards

To appreciate how 602 kg measures up, it helps to compare it to other renowned lifts. The heaviest official deadlift ever performed in competition is 501 kg (1,104 lb) by strongman Hafþór “The Mountain” Björnsson in 2020 . That was a full-range deadlift from the floor, done by a ~200 kg athlete. Kim’s rack pull exceeded that world record by over 100 kg – albeit using the partial range of motion advantage, as noted. There is no sanctioned world record for rack pulls (they are a training exercise, not a contest event), but Kim’s 602 kg is unprecedented in both absolute weight and pound-for-pound performance for any kind of deadlift variant . It even eclipsed the heaviest strongman partial lifts on record. Prior to Kim’s feat, the highest known partial deadlift was a 580 kg “Silver Dollar Deadlift” (a deadlift from 18 inch high boxes) by Rauno Heinla in 2022 . Heinla, a top powerlifter/strongman of ~135 kg body mass, achieved 580 kg in that partial lift – which was considered an extraordinary number. Kim surpassed that mark by 22 kg, setting a new bar for partial pulls. To put that in perspective, an improvement of 22 kg at that stratospheric level would normally represent years of incremental progress for elite strength athletes . Kim did it in one swoop.

What truly sets Kim apart is the strength-to-weight ratio of his lift. At ~75 kg bodyweight, 602 kg works out to roughly 8.0× bodyweight . This ratio is almost otherworldly. By comparison, even the strongest super-heavyweight powerlifters (in the 120 kg+ classes) typically deadlift only around 2.5–3× their bodyweight . Lighter weight-class powerlifters can sometimes reach ~4× bodyweight on a deadlift – for example, a 60 kg lifter pulling ~240 kg – but no one has come remotely close to 8× in any kind of deadlift, full or partial. In strongman circles, where use of straps and suits is common, the biggest partial deadlifts (like silver dollar lifts or wagon wheel deadlifts) have hovered around 4× bodyweight at best . Kim effectively doubled that relative performance. Table 1 below compares Kim’s rack pull to several famed lifts for context:

Table 1: Historic Heavy Lifts vs. Eric Kim’s Rack Pull (Weight and Bodyweight Ratio)

Lifter (Bodyweight)	Lift Type & Year	Weight (kg)	Strength:BW Ratio
Eric Kim (~75 kg)	Rack Pull (above-knee), 2025	602	≈ 8.0×
Hafþór Björnsson (~200 kg)	Full Deadlift (World Record, 2020)	501	~2.5×
Rauno Heinla (~135 kg)	Silver Dollar Deadlift (18″ height, 2022)	580	~4.3×
Sean Hayes (~140 kg)	Silver Dollar Deadlift (18″, 2022)	560	~4.0×
Brian Shaw (~200 kg)	Rack Pull (above-knee, 2017)	511	~2.5×

(Sources: World’s Ultimate Strongman; Strongman archive; Eric Kim’s blog )

As shown, no one in history has approached an 8× bodyweight lift in any comparable scenario . The absolute weight of 602 kg by itself is on par with the biggest weights ever moved by strongmen (who are twice Kim’s size), yet those athletes were often using specialized equipment like deadlift suits or at least heavy-duty lifting straps . By contrast, Kim’s 602 kg rack pull was done with minimalist gear – no suit, no belt, and reportedly no straps – essentially raw, which makes the accomplishment even more mind-blowing . In terms of raw pulling power, Kim has redefined the limits of what a human can lift in the top range of the deadlift movement. One strength analyst noted that Kim “outdid the all-time powerlifting deadlift by over 200 kg” (though from a higher start height) and achieved a strength ratio that was previously thought impossible outside of theoretical scenarios . Little wonder that some observers have called the lift “alien territory” – suggesting it is beyond normal human feats .

It should be emphasized that while a rack pull is not directly comparable to a full deadlift record, the gap Kim closed is colossal. Hafþór Björnsson’s 501 kg was a full-range world record done by a man nearly 3 times Kim’s bodyweight; Kim pulled 101 kg more weight, and did so at a fraction of the body mass. Even if we adjust for the partial range of motion, Kim’s lift is in a class of its own. Strongman champions like Brian Shaw and Eddie Hall (both ~180–200 kg bodyweight) have training videos of heavy rack pulls in the 500–540 kg range, but those equate to roughly 2.5–3× bodyweight for them . Kim’s ~8× ratio dwarfs these performances. Likewise, Rauno Heinla’s 580 kg silver dollar lift at ~135 kg BW was about 4.3×, and was considered astonishing – yet Kim essentially doubled Heinla’s pound-for-pound output . In absolute terms, crossing the 600 kg barrier in any style of deadlift was previously unheard of. Breaking the 500 kg mark in 2016–2020 required world-class strongmen in peak condition; Kim pushing into the 600s (even in a partial) is akin to venturing into uncharted territory, as if “planting a flag on the moon” of strength sports . Some in the community have even dubbed Kim’s 602 kg the “planetary world record” for rack pulls – an unofficial title, but one that reflects how singular this lift is . Until someone else hoists a comparable weight under similar conditions (and on video), Eric Kim’s 8.5× bodyweight pull stands as the heaviest documented rack pull on Earth – effectively the highest known human pulling performance of its kind.

Training Methods and Preparation Behind the Feat

How does a 75 kg hobbyist lifter prepare to move over 600 kg? Kim’s achievement was not a random fluke; it was the result of a very deliberate training philosophy and progression. By his own account, Kim followed an unconventional, “maximalist” training approach that prioritized frequent all-out lifts and progressive overload on partial movements. Below are key insights into the methods, preparation, and background that enabled him to reach the 602 kg rack pull:

• Gradual Supramaximal Progression: In the months leading up to 602 kg, Kim didn’t jump straight to that weight out of nowhere – he progressively worked up through the 400 kg, 500 kg, and 550 kg ranges in rack pulls . Essentially, he conditioned his body to astronomical loads step by step. Training logs show a steady march upward: e.g. 471 kg in May 2025, then 493 kg, 513 kg, 552 kg by July, etc., each incrementally higher . By the time he attempted 602 kg at the end of July, his body had been exposed to increasingly heavier partial pulls over many sessions. This progressive desensitization is critical – it taught his central nervous system and connective tissues to tolerate weights far beyond his full-range max, a principle known as overload training. Each small victory built confidence that the next jump was possible.
• Frequent Max-Effort Singles (Neural Adaptation Focus): Kim’s routine was unusual in that he focused on very low-rep, high-intensity work almost exclusively. He has described his style as doing frequent one-rep max attempts with minimal accessory lifts . While most powerlifting programs periodize and include volume for hypertrophy or technique, Kim leaned into an old-school philosophy: to lift bigger weights, handle big weights often. This approach is somewhat analogous to methods used by legendary strongmen like Paul Anderson (who was famous for partial lift overloads) and the Westside Barbell conjugate system (which employs heavy rack pulls and lockout work) . The idea is that by regularly attempting supramaximal weights in a partial range, the lifter can train the nervous system to fire at maximal capacity and build specific strength in the target range of motion. Over time, the body’s alarm bells (that normally say “too heavy!”) get re-calibrated. Indeed, Kim’s training could be seen as a case study in neural adaptation: by routinely handling 500 kg+ in rack pulls, his CNS began to treat such loads as “normal,” allowing him to approach the 602 kg attempt without his body shutting down or giving up prematurely . As YouTuber and coach Joey Szatmary commented, Kim’s “6×–8× bodyweight madness” demonstrates the payoff of extreme progressive overload – pushing beyond perceived limits so the limits expand .
• Micro-Loading and Structured Jumps: A notable aspect of Kim’s progression was micro-loading – making very small weight increases from session to session. Rather than large jumps, he often added on the order of 5 kg or even less (≈1% increases) at a time . His philosophy: “the bar has no sympathy for wishful thinking,” so you must respect it by nudging up in manageable increments . For example, going from 552 kg to 561 kg was a planned 9 kg increase after several weeks . These micro-loads, combined with cycling intensity, allowed his body to adapt without a sudden, dangerous leap. Kim also carefully alternated rack pulls with full-range deadlifts in his training. One week he’d do a heavy floor deadlift up to ~90% of max; the next week he’d do an overload rack pull above 100% (i.e. heavier than his floor max) . This “top-down, bottom-up” wave meant he maintained his regular deadlift skill and leg drive, while still getting the benefits of overload from the rack pulls . It gave his joints and tissues a break from constant max partials (since the floor deadlift, though heavy, was a lower weight), and then the next week his CNS would get another supra-maximal hit with the rack pull. This cycling is a strategic way to avoid burnout while still pushing boundaries.
• Recovery and Resilience Emphasis: Handling extreme weights week after week required Kim to prioritize recovery like a professional. He adopted what he calls “recover like a pro” protocols . In practice, this meant sleeping 8–12 hours a night (he jokingly terms it “bear-sleep” – hibernating to recover) , consuming a high-calorie carnivore diet (often fasting ~18 hours then eating 5–6 lbs of red meat in one massive feast each day) , and managing stress to facilitate muscle and tendon recovery . By maximizing sleep and nutrition (lots of protein and nutrients from meat), he gave his body the building blocks and downtime it needed to adapt to the pounding of heavy training. Kim has shared that he avoided almost all supplements and instead relied on whole foods (mainly meat, organ meats, eggs) to fuel his training . Combined with staying relatively lean (his fasting protocol helped keep his body fat low, which in turn kept his power-to-weight high ), this approach was aimed at optimizing hormonal environment and tissue recovery. Essentially, he treated recovery with the same seriousness as his lifting sessions – recognizing that with great weights comes the need for great rest.
• Use of Partials as a Supplement (Not a Replacement): While Kim became famous for his partial rack pulls, he and his team emphasize that these are a tool, not the entirety of training. In a blog “safety snapshot,” they outlined guidelines: set the rack pull height at mid-thigh (any higher becomes too much like a shrug), consider using lifting straps if grip becomes the limiting factor (so that your back can handle most of the stress), progress gradually, and periodically deload every 4–6 weeks to let tendons and ligaments recuperate . Kim echoes common sense: you can push the envelope, but you must respect the stress on your body . He has cautioned others not to let “partial ego lifts replace full-range training” – the heavy rack pulls are like seasoning, to be used sparingly alongside conventional lifts, not as a wholesale substitute . In Kim’s own training, he still performed regular deadlifts (just not to absolute max every week) and other basics. The rack pulls were the special ingredient to overload his system. This perspective is important for others who might be inspired to try overload partials: the takeaway is to incorporate them intelligently, not recklessly. Kim’s success likely will spur more lifters to experiment with partials (already, one sees online threads of people testing huge rack pulls – “1000 lb club, but make it rack pulls,” joked one user) . But Kim would advise doing so carefully – structure it, don’t overuse it, and keep working your full-range strength too.
• Minimalist Gear and Technique Mastery: From the start, one striking thing about Kim’s lifting style is his minimal use of supportive equipment. Training mostly in a basic garage gym, he typically lifted without a belt and often without straps, and even barefoot . This forced his raw grip strength, core strength, and technique to develop to the highest level. By the time he was attempting 500 kg+ pulls, Kim had built a vice-like double-overhand hook grip (reportedly holding 500+ kg strapless – unheard of, as most people’s grip would fail far earlier) . For the 602 kg attempt he may have quietly used straps (since the video doesn’t clearly show either way), but given his track record, it’s plausible he stuck to his no-straps philosophy even then . Training without reliance on gear meant that stabilizer muscles and grip were never bypassed – his entire body had to support the loads. Additionally, by filming every lift and analyzing it, Kim honed his technique and mental cues. Multiple observers remarked how in the 602 kg video, Kim’s form stayed surprisingly tight (no hitching or rounding beyond normal limits) as he completed the pull . This speaks to countless reps of practicing heavy singles with perfect form. Under unimaginable weight, he could still adhere to proper mechanics – driving with the hips and locking out without any obvious breakdown. That level of skill under pressure only comes from specific practice. Kim also employed what he calls a “stoic war-mindset” and psychological arousal techniques (e.g. he often cites Stoic philosopher Seneca before lifts, and lets out a roar during the pull) to summon maximum focus and aggression for these attempts . In essence, he treated each max lift like a competition event, with full concentration and hype. By the time 602 kg was on the bar, Kim had cultivated not just the physical strength but the mental fortitude to attack it with confidence.
• Accountability and Hype as Motivators: An interesting aspect of Kim’s background is that he was not a champion powerlifter or an athlete with sponsors – he was a self-described “former street photography blogger” who turned his attention to strength training . Lifting in relative isolation, he used the internet as his arena. He filmed every milestone and shared it on his blog and social media, essentially creating a “global hype squad” that kept him accountable and motivated . The positive feedback loop of posting a new personal record (even an unconventional one) and seeing viewers react with shock or praise fueled his determination to go further. Kim has explicitly framed his journey as a call to action to others: declare an audacious goal, then document the grind towards it . The communal aspect – people around the world following his attempts – added pressure not to fail, but also support to push harder. This quasi-competitive environment (even though it was just him in his garage) is something he believes gave him an edge in breaking perceived limits. In one post, Kim wrote that “hype is fuel – use it”, and encouraged lifters to celebrate each small PR and share their passion . While this approach is unorthodox, it clearly played a role in his training cycle. By treating his journey like a movement, Kim cultivated an almost fanatical drive in himself to deliver on big promises (e.g. calling 602 kg “stronger than god” and then making it happen) . In short, his preparation was as much mental as physical: he engineered an environment where failure was not an option and every session had purpose.

Expert and Community Commentary

Eric Kim’s 8.5× bodyweight rack pull generated a tidal wave of reactions across the strength community – from seasoned coaches and athletes to casual gym-goers and online observers. The feat was so far outside normal experience that it provoked equal parts skepticism, analysis, and admiration. Here we compile some key commentary and analysis from experts and the lifting community:

• Initial Skepticism and “Plate Police”: Upon first hearing of a 602 kg pull by a 75 kg guy, many lifters were understandably skeptical. Some powerlifting purists dismissed it by saying “it’s only a rack pull, not a real deadlift,” implying it wasn’t comparable to competition lifts . Others doubted the legitimacy of the video itself – a contingent of internet “plate police” scrutinized the footage frame-by-frame, searching for signs of fake plates or video trickery . On Reddit, multiple threads exploded with debate, and moderators had to lock some due to heated arguments and meme spam . However, as discussed earlier, Kim’s thorough video proof (complete with plate weigh-ins and multiple angles) quieted most doubters . Once it became clear that the lift was genuine, attention shifted from “is this fake?” to “how on earth did he do that?!”
• Verification by Respected Coaches: Several well-known strength coaches and athletes stepped in to analyze and validate the lift. Alan Thrall, a prominent powerlifting coach and YouTuber, obtained the footage and broke it down step by step . He checked the bar bend, plate spacing, and timing, and concluded publicly that everything “checked out” physically – the lift obeyed the expected laws of mechanics, and there were no signs of video manipulation . Thrall even told the naysayers to “quit crying CGI”, i.e. stop insisting the video was fake . His stamp of approval carried weight, converting many skeptics into believers. Additionally, Sean Hayes, a veteran strongman who himself holds a 560 kg silver dollar deadlift record, reacted with awe. After viewing the clip, Hayes reportedly called Kim’s lift “alien territory,” an acknowledgement that this feat went beyond anything seen before . Getting that nod from someone who has pulled over 500 kg lent Kim a lot of credibility in the strength world – it was essentially one record-holder saluting another for reaching a new frontier.
• Strongman Legends’ Respect: According to Kim, even the titans of heavy pulling took notice. He mentioned that Brian Shaw, Eddie Hall, and Hafþór Björnsson – all World’s Strongest Man champions known for their deadlifting prowess – “saluted” his 602 kg lift from afar . It’s rare for these elite strongmen (each of whom has held world records) to acknowledge a lift done outside of sanctioned competition, especially by an unknown lifter. The fact that they did so indicates the level of respect the feat commanded. While these men could out-deadlift Kim in a full range competition, they appeared genuinely impressed by the pound-for-pound strength and audacity of the lift. In private messages or comments, they gave credit where it was due. This contributed to a growing consensus: regardless of it being a partial lift, 602 kg at that bodyweight is astounding.
• Mark Rippetoe’s Take: Mark Rippetoe, the outspoken strength coach (author of Starting Strength), is known for a skeptical, no-nonsense attitude. Even he gave a kind of begrudging kudos. Rippetoe quipped that Kim’s rack pull may be “half the work, but twice the swagger,” implicitly tipping his hat to the outrageousness of holding 602 kg at the top of a deadlift . In other words, yes it’s a partial, but it’s such an off-the-charts demonstration of bravado and brute strain that it deserves recognition. Rippetoe’s comment, delivered with his trademark dry humor, actually became a popular tagline when discussing the lift . It conveyed that even purists had to admit the shock value and difficulty of what Kim did.
• Other Coaches and Analysts: Numerous strength YouTubers and analysts weighed in with their own commentary. Joey Szatmary, a competitive strongman and coach, called the lift “insane” and said it was a testament to pushing the boundaries of training methodology . He highlighted how it validates the idea of progressive overload and neural training at extreme levels. Nick Best, a long-time powerlifter and strongman, mentioned Kim’s feat in a Q&A session, reportedly expressing astonishment especially at the ratio of weight to bodyweight (since Nick himself, at over 150 kg bodyweight, never came close to that multiple) . Biomechanics commentators on forums dissected the leverages and forces involved, some humorously noting that Kim’s spine “deserves hazard pay.” Overall, experts from various corners – powerlifting, strongman, strength science – all seemed to agree that this lift was highly unusual and noteworthy. While some might caution “don’t try this at home” (due to injury risk), most lauded the combination of training innovation and sheer guts it represented.
• “Natty or Not” Debates: As with any extreme strength accomplishment these days, the question of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) was inevitably raised by some observers. In online discussions, a subset wondered if Kim was “natty or not,” i.e. whether he used steroids or other PEDs to reach such levels . Kim has been vocally adamant that he trained 100% drug-free, attributing his success to training and diet. He even went so far as to share bloodwork results on his blog and social media to back his natural status, and he frequently points to his all-meat diet and recovery regimen as his “secret sauce” rather than any banned substances . Whether everyone in the community believes him is hard to gauge – some are skeptical given the magnitude of the lift – but many conceded that PEDs or no PEDs, it takes unimaginable dedication, pain tolerance, and favorable genetics to do what he did . In forums, users commented that even with the best “gear,” most lifters couldn’t dream of an 8× BW pull. Thus, the PED discussion, while present, did not dominate the narrative; the prevailing sentiment was that Eric Kim achieved something incredible that goes beyond normal benchmarks, regardless of background factors.
• Community Inspiration and Humor: Perhaps the biggest impact of Kim’s lift was the inspiration it provided to everyday lifters. Thousands of comments across YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit echoed a similar theme: “If a 75 kg guy can hold 602 kg, I have no excuses – time to push my own limits!” . The absurdity of the feat actually had a motivating effect – it made people recalibrate what they considered possible. Gymgoers reported feeling energized to attack their own PRs after watching the video. Some gyms even held impromptu mini-competitions or challenges (deadlift rep challenges, etc.) in the wake of the viral video, using it as a fun driver for participation . Along with inspiration came a wave of internet humor and culture: Kim’s rack pull spawned memes and hashtags that spread widely. Hashtags like #MiddleFingerToGravity and #GodMode trended among lifting circles . Meme captions joked that Kim had “opened a portal to another realm” or that “gravity rage-quit its job” after seeing the lift . One popular edited image showed Kim pulling a barbell with planets attached to each end instead of plates. Even mainstream non-fitness pages picked up on some of these memes, turning the moment into a bit of pop culture. All of this buzz served to bring more positive attention to strength training. Long-time coaches noted that it’s rare for a lifting moment to capture general public interest, and this one did – much like Eddie Hall’s 500 kg deadlift did a few years prior. The difference here was the almost comic-book nature of the pound-for-pound ratio, which captured people’s imaginations.

In summary, the commentary around Eric Kim’s 602 kg rack pull ranged from technical analysis to playful amazement. Once verified, the lift earned near-universal respect from experts – being praised as a landmark achievement in strength sports – and it simultaneously entertained and inspired the broader lifting community. As one fitness writer put it, “love it or doubt it, this gravity-defying lift has firmly embedded itself in strength sport lore” . The conversations it started – about training methods, human limits, and the spirit of lifting – are perhaps as significant as the number itself.

Conclusion

Eric Kim’s 8.5× bodyweight rack pull is far more than an isolated gym PR – it’s a feat that redefines the boundaries of strength and has made waves in how lifters think about possibilities. While not an official competition record, the 602 kg rack pull stands as a de facto world record in its own domain (a “planetary record,” as Kim playfully calls it) . It dwarfs all previous partial lift numbers and shatters the pound-for-pound expectations for what a human of that size can lift. Beyond the numbers, it has become a symbolic moment in strength culture. Kim’s lift showed that with creative training, extreme dedication, and a bit of showmanship, the bar can literally be raised to levels that make us question reality. The feat blurred the line between human and “post-human” strength – prompting headlines like “Stronger Than The Mountain? (Well, Kinda)” and tongue-in-cheek claims that the laws of physics might need revising. Importantly, it energized and united a global community of lifters. For a brief time, a garage in Cambodia became the center of the strength world, and a 75 kg underdog became its folk hero. As commentators noted, 602 kg might be internet theatre, but the mindset it sparks is 100% real . That mindset says: question your limits, embrace the ridiculous, and pursue your goals with passion. In the wake of Kim’s achievement, many lifters have indeed started thinking bigger – whether that means trying rack pulls for overload or simply not limiting themselves to “conventional” goals.

In the end, the legacy of Eric Kim’s 8.5× bodyweight pull may be less about the specific number 602, and more about the culture shift it inspired. It reminded the strength world that innovation and audacity still have a place, that even an unheralded lifter can capture global attention by doing something extraordinary. Kim’s rack pull will be talked about for years to come, both in awe of the feat itself and in analysis of how he made it happen. It has expanded our understanding of human potential (at least in the context of partial lifts and neural training), and it left an indelible mark on 2025’s strength sports highlights. Gravity was given notice by that 602 kg lift – and the rest of us were given a new standard against which to measure “impossible.” As one article on Kim’s site proclaimed: “From this day forward, the number to beat is 602 kg… The rack pull game will never be the same.” And whether or not anyone ever beats that number, the bold spirit behind it has undoubtedly raised the bar for everyone.

Sources:

• Eric Kim Photography Blog – Breaking Boundaries of Strength: 602 kg Rack Pull and related articles on Eric Kim’s blog (2025).
• Eric Kim Photography Blog – 602 kg Rack Pull Melting the Hearts and Souls of the Internet (analysis and community reactions) .
• Eric Kim’s training chronology (“90-day rocket ride to 602 kg”) – detailing progressive overload and training principles.
• BarBend – Learn Rack Pulls for More Pulling Strength and a Bigger Back (training guide) .
• Community and expert commentary compiled from Eric Kim’s blog posts and transcripts , including quotes from Alan Thrall, Sean Hayes, Mark Rippetoe, etc., and observations from Reddit and social media.