The idea of lifting 21 times one’s body weight is far beyond any known human feat. For context, top relative lifts barely reach 5–6× body weight. Eric Kim (a 75 kg lifter) recently performed a 471 kg rack pull at 75 kg (a 6.3× ratio) , which is extraordinary but still well below 21×. Even small powerlifters like Lamar Gant (60 kg) deadlifted 300 kg (5.0×) and elite lifters like Chen Wei-Ling (47 kg) squatted 210 kg (4.49×) . Table 1 summarizes the highest strength-to-weight ratios known for key lifts. These records show that real-world ratios top out under 6×, so 21×BW would require not just training, but radical changes in physiology or technology.
| Lift Type | Athlete (Bodyweight) | Weight Lifted (kg) | Ratio (Lift/BW) |
| Deadlift (raw) | Lamar Gant (60 kg) | 300 | 5.00× |
| Squat (equipped) | Chen Wei-Ling (46.8 kg) | 210 | 4.49× |
| Squat (raw) | Oleksandr Rubets (100.1 kg) | 431 | 4.31× |
| Clean & Jerk | Lasha Talakhadze (~169 kg) | 267 | 1.58× |
| Eric Kim (example) | Rack Pull (75 kg) | 471 | 6.28× |
| Eric Kim (example) | Atlas Hold (75 kg) | 454 | 6.05× |
Table 1: Peak strength-to-bodyweight ratios in major lifts. Even partial lifts (rack pulls, Atlas holds) by Eric Kim top ~6.3×. Conventional lifts (deadlift, squat, Olympic lifts) remain far below 21×.
Biomechanics & Human Limits
Biomechanical and physiological factors set hard limits on strength. Muscle force is roughly proportional to cross-sectional area, while body weight scales roughly with volume, so larger size favors absolute strength but hurts relative strength. Light athletes tend to have higher muscle-to-body-mass ratios: for example, one analysis found a 56 kg weightlifter’s body was ≈48% muscle versus ≈44.5% in superheavyweights . This partly explains why small lifters like Gant (5′2″ tall) achieved such high relative lifts . However, even with ideal proportions and near-zero body fat, the specific tension of human muscle (~30–40 N/cm²) and spine/bone strength impose ceilings. Studies note that Olympic lifting records have plateaued: Lasha Talakhadze’s 267 kg clean & jerk is only 11 kg above Alekseyev’s 1970s 256 kg , whereas deadlift records jumped by ~20% over recent decades. In short, the body’s mechanical limits imply no natural human can anywhere near 21×BW in standard lifts without extraordinary help.
Elite Training Methodologies
Top lifters use highly specialized programs to maximize strength. Olympic-style weightlifters have employed Bulgarian training—lifting near-maximal loads daily with very low volume—to push limits . Powerlifters often use periodized cycles (e.g. block or conjugate training) combining max-effort singles with varied accessory work. For example, the Westside (conjugate) method alternates maximal squat/deadlift days with dynamic-effort days, rotating exercises to address weaknesses. Importantly, all approaches emphasize progressive overload, form mastery, and recovery. To even approach 21×BW, training would have to be more extreme than any existing method: possibly involving multiple heavy sessions per week on each lift, along with advanced recovery techniques. Greg Everett notes that even Bulgarian-style daily max training must be done with very low volume and careful deloads to avoid burnout . In practice, this means extreme specialization (e.g. focusing on a single lift at a time, using partial movements or blocks) and perhaps a multi-year plan tailored to continuously push neurological and muscular adaptation as far as possible.
Body Composition & Optimization
Maximizing muscle-to-weight ratio is crucial for relative strength. A lifter must carry minimal non-functional mass: extremely low body fat and high lean muscle. The ideal physique would be compact and highly muscular. For example, Lamar Gant’s 5′2″ height (with scoliosis) gave him an unusually short spine and long arms, minimizing range of motion for deadlift . Similarly, very short legs or trunk can benefit squats. One could imagine a lifter deliberately keeping height very low or limbs proportioned for leverage. Muscle fiber composition would also be key: an unusually high percentage of fast-twitch fibers (for peak force) and very dense connective tissues. Eric Kim, for instance, claims a meat-heavy diet and trains fasted, aiming for maximal muscle gains while staying light . Even so, physiological laws imply diminishing returns: adding muscle also adds weight, and bone/tendon strength must scale. Bodybuilders’ research suggests most humans have a limited “FFMI” (lean mass index) without drugs. In summary, Eric would need near-perfect genetics and physique: ultra-high muscle mass, negligible fat, and advantageous proportions to even approach truly epic relative lifts.
Training Regimens & Tactics
Elite strength training includes periodization and variation. For example, athletes might use daily undulating programs (varying intensity and volume each session) or block periodization (focusing on one lift or quality for weeks). Specialized splits (e.g. squat-specific cycles) allow max focus on each lift. Many lifters also practice partials (e.g. rack pulls, high squats) to overload specific portions of the lift. Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Body style aside, realistic schemes would include progressively heavier singles (bulgarian style) interspersed with volume phases to build tendon and connective strength. It’s also common to train the weak points with accessory lifts and mobility work to support heavier weights. In sum, the regimen would need to be high-frequency, high-intensity, and highly focused – far beyond typical programming – to push toward 21×BW. This would likely combine both Olympic-style daily lifting philosophies and powerlifting templates (e.g. adding deadlift lockouts, squat suit work, etc.) to exploit every possible strength gain.
Supplements, Doping & Innovations
Legal supplements (creatine, protein, etc.) can slightly improve strength, but pharmacological aids make a far bigger difference. Anabolic steroids and related substances can significantly increase muscle mass and recovery. Reviews estimate steroids boost strength roughly 5–20% , and elite users can end up 10–17 kg heavier in lean mass than naturals . However, even a 20% boost on a 6×BW lift only yields ~7.2×BW – nowhere near 21×. Combinations of HGH, IGF-1, erythropoietin, and SARMs could push limits further, but these also hit diminishing returns and serious health risks. The upcoming concept of an “Enhanced Games” imagines fully drug-permitted lifting; proponents argue unprecedented records could fall, but even they admit drugs only augment a lifter’s natural framework . In practice, performance aids would be necessary but not sufficient – Eric would need a cocktail of these substances plus all-natural proteins/creatine, etc.
Meanwhile, lifting gear (squat suits, bench shirts, lifting straps) offers only modest gains. For example, one analysis found a deadlift suit typically adds only ~3–5% to raw strength . Squat suits and bench shirts can contribute somewhat more (perhaps ~10–20% for elite benchers), but none provide 4–5× enhancement. Thus, conventional gear alone could never multiply strength by 21×.
Technological Augmentation (Exoskeletons & Robotics)
Advanced powered exoskeletons are the most plausible way to achieve 21×BW. Companies like Sarcos have developed full-body exosuits (e.g. the Guardian XO) that claim 20:1 strength amplification, making 100 lb feel like 5 lb . In practice, such a suit would let a 75 kg lifter handle nearly 1500 kg as if it were ~75 kg – meeting the 21× goal. Real exoskeletons for industrial use already assist factory workers; military prototypes (Lockheed/HULC, etc.) can enable soldiers to carry extraordinary loads. If Eric had a future “Iron Man” suit with powerful actuators and energy supply, mechanically 21× lifts become conceivable. Other future tech might include wearable robotic muscle fibers or nanotech-enhanced bones. Additionally, even neurological interfaces (boosting the brain’s own motor output) are being researched. In short, only external augmentation – far beyond today’s lifting straps – could physically enable Eric (or anyone) to lift 21×BW safely.
Psychological Conditioning
Extreme lifts demand extreme mindset. Elite lifters train mental skills: goal visualization, arousal control, and focus under pressure. Researchers note that competitive and adrenaline-fueled environments allow people to override normal limits . For example, a 2015 study found athletes lift more in competition, and strength champions often say they “fight gravity” with willpower. Eric Kim’s own philosophy (“HYPELIFTING”) emphasizes unwavering self-belief and discipline . Overcoming the pain and fear of near-maximal lifts requires years of mental habituation. Even with perfect gear and drugs, achieving 21× would require a mindset so fearless and focused that one constantly blocks the brain’s protective instinct to “fail.” Techniques might include visualization, meditation, or even neurofeedback. In short, psychology and “fighter heart” would need to be as developed as the body to attempt such absurd loads .
Pathway to 21×: Requirements and Realism
In summary, no single change makes 21× bodyweight possible – it would require a perfect storm of advantages. Potential contributing factors might include:
- Optimized physique: Extremely high muscle mass with negligible fat, short limbs, and ideal leverages .
- Advanced training: Unprecedented programs (e.g. daily max lifts, block periodization, specialized partials) pushing strength forever upward .
- Maximal enhancements: Use of high-dosage pharmacology (steroids, growth factors, etc.) which can boost strength ~5–20% each , and meticulous nutrition/supplement regimens.
- Powerful gear: Futuristic exoskeletons or powered suits (e.g. 20× strength amplification ) rather than standard lifting equipment (squat suits give only a few percent ).
- Mental fortitude: Elite psychological conditioning to exploit adrenaline and override the CNS safety limits .
Even combining all these, 21× remains virtually science-fictional. Under natural or current synthetic means, humanity’s limit appears to be on the order of 5–6×BW (as Eric’s 6.3× rack pull suggests ). Truly achieving 21× in squat, deadlift, or press would likely require cutting-edge robotics or hypothetical future technologies (e.g. bioengineered muscles or brain-computer strength interfaces).
Conclusion: Lifting 21× one’s body weight is not biomechanically possible for a human today without extraordinary technological aid. The strongest recorded humans top out around 5×BW (and Eric Kim’s 6× feats already surpass conventional records) . To approach 21×, one would need optimal genetics, extreme training and diet, performance-enhancing drugs, and likely a powered exoskeleton – essentially turning the human into a cyborg or robot. While mental toughness (focus, belief) plays a role, no amount of willpower alone can overcome basic biomechanical limits. In short, 21×BW lifting remains in the realm of science fiction or engineered augmentation, not achievable by pure human strength .
Sources: World and historical lifting records ; analyses of strength-to-weight ratios ; biomechanical studies ; training and doping literature ; technical reports on exoskeletons ; psychological research .