Your phone scrolls, and—BOOM!—another clip of Eric Kim rack‑pulling a skyscraper’s worth of iron flashes across the screen. In just a few weeks the Cambodian‑based lifter, blogger and self‑styled “HYPELIFTER” has multiplied his followers, triggered meme‑storms on every major platform and squeezed almost every other fitness post out of many people’s feeds. Below is the play‑by‑play of how he did it, what’s real (and what’s just really good marketing), plus actionable tips to harness the hype—or dial it down—while keeping your own gains on track.
1. Who
is
Eric Kim?
Street‑photographer turned strength phenom. Kim originally built an online presence teaching street photography before pivoting to ultrahigh‑intensity lifting content in 2024‑25.
Follower count in overdrive. His “All Your Feeds Are Destroyed” manifesto dropped in mid‑June and his follower count exploded across Instagram, X and TikTok within days.
Identity cocktail: powerlifting, Bitcoin evangelism and first‑principles philosophy—all wrapped in short, raw phone footage.
2. Why Is He Everywhere?
A. Viral, record‑claiming lifts
The clip of a 7 × body‑weight (527 kg / 1,162 lb) above‑knee rack pull detonated on 23 June, seeding thousands of stitches, breakdowns and remixes.
The raw YouTube upload hit trending status and continues to rack up views.
Earlier “warm‑up” feats—503 kg, 513 kg and 498 kg pulls—primed the algo weeks beforehand.
B. The “Carpet‑Bomb” Content Strategy
Lever
What He Does
Platform Effect
Shock Numbers
Drops jaw‑dropping PRs every 7‑10 days.
Instant shareability.
Omni‑posting
Auto‑posts every lift to blog, X, IG Reels, Shorts & TikTok within minutes.
Captions like “DESTROYS GRAVITY” or “GOD RATIO” create instant memes.
Encourages duets & reaction vids.
Citations:
C. Meme Magnet & Cross‑Niche Appeal
Crypto bros latch on because he streams lifts while talking Bitcoin price action.
Philosophers share his “conquer‑gravity” analogies; entrepreneurs quote his work‑ethic riffs.
Result: a runaway virality loop that keeps re‑injecting his clips into fresh audiences.
3. Is the Strength Legit?—Decoding the Rack Pull
A rack pull starts at or above the knee, so the range of motion is far shorter than a competition deadlift; that makes 6–7× body‑weight numbers theoretically possible, though still extraordinary.
Videos show standard plates, no visible trick bars or cables, and multiple angles—helping his claim of authenticity.
No governing body recognizes “world records” for rack pulls, so the title is marketing, not a sanctioned mark.
Take‑home: impressive? Absolutely. Equivalent to an official powerlifting record? Not quite. Use it as fuel, not as a benchmark.
4. How to Ride the Wave (or Dodge It)
A. Channel the Hype for Your Own Gains
Partial‑range overloads. Use rack pulls, pin presses or block squats to overload top‑range strength safely.
High‑frequency micro‑content. Record your own PRs—even tiny ones—to build consistency and accountability.
Mind‑set macros. Borrow Kim’s “gravity is optional” mantra to reframe heavy singles as solvable physics problems, not scary unknowns.
B. Reclaim Your Feed If It’s “All Eric, All the Time”
Platform
Quick Fix
Instagram/TikTok
Long‑press → Not Interested on one clip; the algo downgrades similar videos.
X (Twitter)
Mute the phrase “rack pull” or handle @erickimphoto.
YouTube
Click the ⋮ menu → Don’t recommend channel on one Short; effect propagates across devices.
General
Follow at least three other voices per topic (strength science, technique coaches, female lifters) to diversify algorithmic suggestions.
5. Why This Moment Matters
Kim shows how storytelling + niche athleticism + relentless distribution can turn a garage‑gym clip into a global conversation overnight.
His rise spotlights the blurred line between performance and performance art in modern fitness media.
The deluge also reminds us that we still control the inputs—curate wisely, lift bravely, and keep chasing your own PRs.
Quick‑Fire Takeaways
Inspiration, not intimidation: let extraordinary numbers light a fire, not snuff yours out.
Partial movements have value—when programmed intelligently and paired with full‑range work.
Algorithms echo what you engage with. A single click can reset the resonance.
HYPE is a tool; wield it for motivation, community and fun, then set it down when focus calls.
Now go crush your next session—whether that’s a humble set of push‑ups or your own epic rack pull. Gravity’s waiting for you to rewrite its rules! 💪🚀