Eric Kim (a 71 kg / 156 lb lifter described as a “hobbyist lifter and photographer” ) recently claimed on his personal blog to have performed a 678 kg (1,495 lb) rack pull at a bodyweight of ~71 kg – about 9.5× his bodyweight . This partial deadlift far exceeds any known official record. We examine the available evidence below.

Lift Details (Type, Weight, Ratio)

Figure: Example of a rack pull (a deadlift variant started from a rack or blocks). In a rack pull, the bar begins at an elevated height (often knee-level) so the lifter can handle heavier loads . According to Kim’s claim, the lift type was a rack pull – a partial deadlift done from an elevated pin/block height . The weight lifted was 678 kg (1,495 lb) and his bodyweight about 71 kg (156 lb) , giving a ~9.5× bodyweight ratio. By comparison, the strongest official deadlifts are far lower: for example, Hafþór Björnsson’s 501 kg raw deadlift (at ~200 kg bodyweight) is only about 2.5× his weight . Even known partial-deadlift records (e.g. Rauno Heinla’s 580 kg “silver-dollar” deadlift) are well below 678 kg .

• Type of lift: Rack pull (partial deadlift from pins/blocks) .
• Weight lifted: 678 kg (1,495 lb) (claimed).
• Bodyweight: ~71 kg (156 lb).
• Claimed ratio: ~9.5× bodyweight.
• Official context: If true, this would dwarf any recorded lift – official world-record deadlifts peak at ~500–501 kg , and no sanctioned record exists near a 9.5× ratio. No powerlifting or strongman federation has a certified 678 kg rack-pull on record, and even the best partial deadlift on record is ~580 kg .

Verification & Records

No independent verification of the 678 kg lift has been found. Kim’s only documentation appears on his own websites and videos. In official meet records, his lifts are modest. For example, USPA meet results from May 2025 list 16‑year‑old Eric Kim (59.1 kg) with a 115 kg squat, 102.5 kg bench, 147.5 kg deadlift (365 kg total) – nowhere near the claimed 678 kg. Powerlifting federations only record squats, bench presses, and deadlifts from the floor, and do not recognize rack-pull events.  In fact, Kim’s own write-up acknowledges “no powerlifting federation officially recognizes rack pulls” .  The strongest confirmed lifts in competition are far lower: e.g. 501 kg (Hafþór Björnsson’s raw deadlift) and 580 kg (Heinla’s silver-dollar pull) .  In short, there is no certified competition or record listing that supports a 678 kg rack pull by Eric Kim.

Athlete Profile and Background

Eric Kim is presented as a California-based strength athlete.  According to his online profile, he is 180 cm tall and around 71 kg, and also works as a photographer .  He competes in local powerlifting (USPA) meets as a junior lifter.  For example, the USPA Colonial Clash (May 2025) shows him competing in the 60 kg junior (16–17) class .  Beyond local meets, he has no notable affiliations with major strength organizations.  His publicly listed competitive personal bests (raw squat ~170 kg, bench ~102.5 kg, deadlift ~187.5 kg) are modest by international standards (see OpenPowerlifting).  In summary, Kim appears to be an independent lifter (“hobbyist” as his site says ) who promotes his training philosophy online, rather than a known elite powerlifting champion.

Media Footage and Coverage

There is no major media coverage of this lift.  The only “evidence” comes from Kim’s own social media and video uploads.  For instance, his team has released high-resolution videos of earlier heavy rack pulls (such as a 602 kg pull) to show calibrated plates and no hitching .  However, these are self-published clips (on YouTube and his website) with very limited views and no independent broadcast.  We found no news articles or federation announcements about Kim’s 678 kg pull.  All documentation so far is from his personal channels, and no outside media outlet has verified or reported on the feat.

Date and Location

No official date or event is recorded for the 678 kg lift.  Kim’s online posts suggest it occurred in late 2025.  A press‑style release on his blog (dated October 2025) describes a 655.0 kg rack pull at 71 kg taking place in Los Angeles, CA .  (Kim is described as “Los Angeles-based” in that release .)  The jump to 678 kg is mentioned only on his personal sites with no additional context.  In short, if the lift occurred, it was reportedly at his own gym in Los Angeles around 2025, but there is no independent venue or event information beyond these self-posted announcements.

Sources: Eric Kim’s own blog posts and videos (for claimed details) , official USPA meet results , and third-party strength sport records . The lack of any mention in recognized sport records suggests the 9.5× lift remains unverified by independent authorities.