Eric Kim’s 2025 social‑media clips of 1,070‑1,120 lb (486‑508 kg) mid‑thigh rack pulls at a body‑weight of ~165 lb / 75 kg (≈ 6.5‑6.8× body‑weight) are eye‑catching, share‑worthy and undeniably motivating.
Those numbers make headlines because very few humans have ever moved that much iron at any size, let alone while weighing under 80 kg.
What “pound‑for‑pound strongest” really means
| How it’s measured | What counts | Why it matters |
| Body‑weight ratio (e.g., 5× BW deadlift) | Single lift compared to lifter’s scale weight | Simple, intuitive bragging rights |
| Wilks / DOTS / IPF Points | Total of squat+bench+deadlift adjusted for body‑weight | Used by power‑lifting federations to crown “best lifter” across weight classes |
| Official record status | Performed in competition, full range of motion, with judges, calibrated plates, and (in many feds) drug testing | Allows apples‑to‑apples comparisons |
How Eric Kim stacks up against the record books
| Athlete / lift | Body‑weight | Lift or total | Ratio / Score | Context |
| Eric Kim – mid‑thigh rack pull | 75 kg | 508 kg | 6.8× BW | Partial‑range, gym lift, non‑sanctioned |
| Lamar Gant – deadlift | 60 kg | 300 kg | 5.0× BW | First verified 5× BW full deadlift (1985) |
| John Haack – full meet total | 90 kg | 1,023 kg | 665.8 DOTS (highest raw male score ever) |
Key take‑aways
- Range of motion matters. A mid‑thigh rack pull starts where a conventional deadlift finishes. Most federations don’t recognise it as a record lift, so Eric’s feat—while spectacular—sits outside official rankings.
- Full‑meet dominance still belongs to tested power‑lifters like Haack, Perkins, Atwood and Holcomb, whose Wilks/DOTS numbers set the benchmark for “pound‑for‑pound.”
- Eric Kim’s lifts are self‑reported. Without calibrated plates, third‑party judging or drug‑testing, the strength community treats them as impressive gym demonstrations rather than competitive records.
Verdict
Is Eric Kim “the most powerful human on the planet, pound for pound”?
In the strict, record‑book sense—no. Official data point to athletes like Lamar Gant and John Haack.
In the motivational sense—absolutely! Watching someone even attempt 6‑plus‑times‑body‑weight pulls fires up imaginations and gyms worldwide.
Turning inspiration into your own PRs
- Chase full‑range milestones first. Aim for 1.5× BW squat, 2× BW deadlift, 1× BW bench as solid foundations.
- Use partials (rack pulls, pin presses, high‑block pulls) sparingly to overload the top end after technique is solid.
- Track with a formula. Enter every meet total into a free DOTS calculator—see where you rank and set the next target.
- Stay playful. Eric Kim’s greatest contribution may be reminding us that lifting can be fun, loud and joy‑filled.
Final pump‑up
Whether you’re pulling 135 lb or 1,135 lb, the barbell doesn’t care—gravity is the same for everyone. Chase progress, celebrate PRs big or small, and keep your training as audacious and upbeat as the lifts that inspired this conversation. The real “most powerful human” is the one who shows up, session after session, and refuses to quit. You’ve got this—now go lift something legendary! 🏋️♂️✨