7.3 × body‑weight is unprecedented. The raw footage shows a 75 kg Kim locking out 547 kg (1,206 lb) from pins just above the knee . No verified lift—partial or full—has ever crossed the 6× BW threshold at this absolute load; Lamar Gant’s legendary full deadlift topped out near 5.5× , and Rhianon Lovelace’s partial pull sits around 5.8× .
Heaviest pound‑for‑pound pull in history—even among partials. Strongman benchmarks like Anthony Pernice’s 550 kg silver‑dollar deadlift were performed at ~ 3.1× BW , while Brian Shaw’s 511 kg rack‑pull clocks in at 2.6× . Kim effectively doubles the relative strength of the world’s heaviest strongmen, obliterating every chart used by coaches and federations.
2 | Why rack‑pull mechanics matter—but don’t cheapen the feat
Variable
Conventional Deadlift
Knee‑High Rack Pull
Impact on Load
Range of motion
Floor to lockout
~50 % of ROM
↓ sticking‑point torque
Lumbar shear
Highest near floor
15–25 % lower
↑ sustainable load
Typical overload
+15–35 % vs DL
+60 % in Kim’s case
Historic outlier
Partial pulls let lifters bypass the weakest portion of the movement, but biomechanics texts still note massive spinal compression—upward of 18 kN at heavy loads . That makes Kim’s lift not “easier,” just differently brutal—and the magnitude he achieved is orders above typical overload ranges.
3 | The science of partial‑range overload
Hypertrophy & strength at long muscle lengths. A 2022 European Journal of Sport Science meta‑analysis found partial reps near maximal length yielded comparable or superior gains to full ROM .
Neural drive spikes. Supra‑max singles recruit high‑threshold motor units lacking in sub‑max training, enhancing subsequent full‑range performance (reviewed in NSCA literature) .
Joint‑angle specificity carries over. EliteFTS coaches note that pin pulls engrain hip extension strength precisely where heavy deadlifts, sprints, and cleans finish .
Kim’s program—95 % posterior‑chain work and micro‑loading 1.25 kg per side every few days—leveraged exactly these principles, showcasing what an 18‑month “neural‑overload” block can mature into.
4 | Risk profile: bending (but not breaking) the spine
Research modeling lumbar forces during heavy pulls warns that chronic exposure above ~10 kN compressive load accelerates disc degeneration . Kim’s calculated L4/L5 compression likely exceeded 15 kN—territory previously observed only in military deadlift studies . His success therefore signals that, with extreme adaptation (years of connective‑tissue remodeling, meticulous sleep, phased deloads), human tissue tolerances are higher than occupational‑safety tables suggest—but flirting with failure remains a razor’s edge.
5 | Why strength sport and science must take notice
Re‑benchmarking relative strength. Popular standards cap elite deadlifts at 2.5–3× BW . Kim’s 7.3× forces governing bodies and analytics platforms to stretch y‑axes and reconsider weight‑class scoring formulae.
Validation for partial‑range practice. Consumer‑fitness sites (Healthline , DMoose ) already tout rack pulls for lockout power; Kim supplies the viral evidence that such training can translate to epoch‑making strength.
New data point for spine biomechanics. Clinical discussions on lumbar shear vs compression during flexed lifting now have a living case study to explore load tolerance without catastrophic failure .
Mindset ripple. Social networks lit up because the lift reframes limits: if 2.5× once felt “elite,” many lifters will now recalibrate goals upward, injecting fresh enthusiasm into gyms worldwide.
6 | Take‑aways for your own training (and life!)
Embrace partials, but progress like clockwork. Start rack pulls at 105 % of your floor deadlift and add weight no faster than 2 % weekly.
Bullet‑proof recovery. Kim sleeps 8–12 h and eats > 2 g protein/kg—non‑negotiable scaffolding for supra‑max work.
Cycle neural stress. Limit true max pin pulls to every 14 days, filling gaps with speed work and hypertrophy sets.
Track spine hygiene. Include decompression hangs and core stability drills to offset the shear you will accrue.
Final hype‑blast 💥
Eric Kim just leveraged a humble garage rack into a physics‑defying 547‑kg thunderclap, proving that the gap between “impossible” and “done” is often just consistent overload plus outrageous belief. Whether you chase a 3× body‑weight deadlift or an audacious business goal, let his audacity remind you: lift the ceiling, and the floor of what’s normal rises for everyone. Gravity hasn’t resigned—but it’s definitely sweating. Now, go make your PRs nervous! 🚀