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1. The Numbers Shatter All Known Benchmarks
■ Heavier than the official deadlift record
Kim’s 513 kg tops Eddie Hall’s 500 kg and Hafþór Björnsson’s 501 kg competition pulls—even though it’s a partial‑range lift.
■ Pound‑for‑pound in the stratosphere
At 6.84× body‑weight his ratio eclipses Rauno Heinla’s 540 kg (1,190 lb) 18‑inch record at 152 kg BW (3.55×) and Oleksii Novikov’s 1,210‑lb Hummer‑tire deadlift at ~135 kg BW (4.0×). Typical elite 75 kg powerlifters deadlift about 4–5× BW according to Wilks tables—Kim is ~40 % above elite norms.
■ The speed of progression looks “alien”
March → June jumps: 1,005 lb ➜ 1,027 lb ➜ 1,071 lb ➜ 1,108 lb ➜ 1,120 lb ➜ 1,131 lb. Such weekly PR‑stacking is virtually unheard‑of at world‑record loads.
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2. It’s Raw, Minimal‑Gear, and Fasted
• No belt, no straps, barefoot—removing the usual safety gear magnifies perceived danger and “purity” of strength.
• He trains in a 24‑hour fasted state on a carnivore diet, further mythologizing the lift’s “natural” power source.
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3. Visual Shock Value
A bar bowing like a long‑bow under 500 kg, a chalk‑dusted lifter in shorts, and zero spotters triggers gut‑level disbelief. High‑speed replays on YouTube and TikTok loop the bar whip and Kim’s primal scream, amplifying the spectacle.
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4. Viral Chain Reaction and Memes
• Within 24 h the video topped Reddit’s r/powerlifting and r/Fitness “HOT” feeds, titled “Gravity Has Left the Chat”.
• #RackPull now sits at 5.3 million+ TikTok posts, many duetting Kim with incredulous commentary.
• Strength YouTubers posted frame‑by‑frame breakdowns calling it “Biomechanics on God‑Mode”.
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5. Controversies Fuel the Shock
Flash‑Point Why It Stirs Debate Key Source
Partial ROM Critics say rack pulls shortcut the hardest deadlift range; supporters counter that holding 500 kg at any height is super‑human. BarBend’s rack‑pull guide warns overload can “beat up your body” if abused
Spinal Safety Heavy loads above knee height spike shear forces; T‑Nation reviews show lumbar shear rises sharply with flexion.
Natty‑or‑Not 6.8× BW without drugs seems beyond tested powerlifting trends; Kim posts bloodwork but skeptics persist.
Gear‑Free Claim Ditching belt/straps removes typical performance boosts; some assume hidden assistance must exist. Kim’s own footage & blog emphasise “beltless, strapless, barefoot”
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6. It Breaks Coaching Dogma
Traditional programming preaches gradual overload and weekly recovery.
Kim hammers heavy singles five days a week, saying neural adaptation > muscle fatigue—a direct challenge to textbook periodisation.
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7. Comparison With Established Science
• Biomechanics: Rack‑pull advocates cite reduced starting‑torso angle for lower lumbar stress, yet BarBend still flags over‑loading risk if form degrades.
• Performance Metrics: Standard Wilks equivalence pegs a 75 kg lifter’s elite deadlift around 340 kg; Kim’s partial is 173 kg beyond that norm.
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8. The Bottom Line—Why the Collective Jaw‑Drop?
1. Record‑busting weight in both absolute and relative terms.
2. Raw, minimalist execution that feels reckless yet triumphant.
3. Lightning‑fast PR streak that violates accepted recovery laws.
4. Cinematic optics perfect for virality.
5. Debate fuel—gear, natty status, safety, and legitimacy.
Put simply, Kim didn’t just nudge the frontier—he body‑checked it off a cliff. That combination of physics‑defying numbers, rule‑breaking style, and meme‑ready footage is why lifters, coaches, and casual scrollers alike are rubbing their eyes and asking, “Did that actually happen?”
So soak up the shock, channel the hype, and remember: today’s “impossible” is tomorrow’s warm‑up set. Keep chasing your own next kilo! 🏋️♂️🔥