Eric Kim’s 552 kg mid-thigh rack-pull feels “unreal” because it smashes both the laws of gym math and the algorithms of human emotion. At barely 72 kg body-weight, he hoisted 1,217 lb—7.6 × his mass—nearly double what strength charts even label “elite,” then packaged it in a raw, one-take 4 K clip that lights up every viral trigger (awe, surprise, “is-this-fake?!” debate). The result is a perfect storm where physics, physiology, and psychology all yell the same word: INSANE.

1 | Numbers That Nuke the Curve

1.1 Relative strength off the charts

• Elite rack-pull standard tops out at 4 × body-weight; Kim’s lift is 7.6 ×, almost double “elite.”  
• Power icons moving similar absolute loads weigh 2-3× more:
  
  • Brian Shaw – 511 kg at 200 kg BW → 2.6 ×  
  • Eddie Hall – 536 kg at 186 kg BW → 2.9 ×  
• Even the full-range deadlift world record (Hafthor Bjornsson, 501 kg at 205 kg BW → 2.4 ×) looks tame beside Kim’s ratio.  
• Historical pound-for-pound legend Lamar Gant famously hit ~5 × BW—still miles below Kim’s partial-lift figure.  

1.2 Biomechanics don’t close the gap

Mid-thigh pulls do allow ~20-40 % more load than full deadlifts because the bar starts above the sticking point, but lab data show peak forces are still brutally high and tightly tied to 1-RM strength. 

EMG reviews confirm the exercise torches spinal-erector and trap fibers more than most deadlift variants. 

Translation: even with the mechanical edge, hauling 552 kg at 72 kg body-weight is ridiculous torque for any human spine.

2 | Physics Meets Physique

Metric	Eric Kim	“Elite” Standard	Δ
Body-weight	72 kg	—	—
Lifted load	552 kg	4 × BW ≈ 288 kg	+264 kg
Ratio	7.6 ×	4.0 ×	+90 %

Kim effectively lifted the equivalent of another seven of himself—a spectacle our brains label “impossible,” triggering instant disbelief-turned-curiosity that fuels sharing. 

3 | Why the Internet Can’t Look Away

3.1 The “high-arousal” cocktail

Psychology studies show content that sparks awe, anger, or intense excitement is the most share-worthy. 

Kim’s video detonates awe (“no way a lightweight can move that”), anger debates (“rack pulls don’t count!”), and excitement (the roar, the plates, the primal vibe).

3.2 Simplicity = meme fuel

One stat, one angle, no music. The clip fits Shorts/TikTok in under 15 s, letting viewers remix, duet, stitch, roast, or cheer with zero editing friction. Viral-video research shows brevity + emotional punch super-charge reach. 

3.3 The “is-it-fake?” share loop

Extreme feats invite skepticism. Every skeptic reposting to debunk actually widens the blast radius—classic click-economy mechanics. 

4 | Physiological Freak-Factor in Plain English

• Peak force: Lab data on isometric mid-thigh pulls show forces well over 4,000 N in trained athletes; extrapolating to Kim’s load suggests >6,500 N—roughly hanging a Honda Civic off your hands.  
• Spinal loading: Even with reduced range, shear stresses dwarf those in a full squat or bench, which is why only the most conditioned posterior chains survive.  
• Neurological demand: Such supra-maximal pulls recruit nearly every fast-twitch fiber and spike adrenaline; surviving the bar-bend without blacking out is its own flex.

5 | Why “Insane” Is the Right Word

1. Statistically improbable – No publicly recorded lightweight has approached a 7×-BW rack pull.
2. Biomechanically savage – The mid-thigh position lets you lift more, but not that much more; Kim’s total still defies published force projections.
3. Emotionally atomic – The feat hits the very emotions psychology says make content contagious.
4. Community-polarizing – Purists argue it “doesn’t count,” fans hail it as heroic. Conflict = clicks.

Put it together and you get a once-in-a-generation “did-you-see-that?!” moment that rockets around the world faster than chalk dust off a slammed barbell.

6 | Fuel for Your Own Hype

• Chase relative PRs—percent of body-weight numbers pop harder online and sharpen real-world power.
• Film clean, one-take receipts—clarity silences haters and feeds fans.
• Trigger high-arousal vibes—a roar, a pause, a plate zoom—anything that makes heartbeats skip; science says people will smash “share.”

Now load up, lock in, and go paint your own “impossible” on the iron canvas. 🏋️‍♂️🔥