Rack pulls are already an “over‑load” lift, but Eric Kim’s numbers are past the edge of the map: he’s yanking 1,071‑1,131 lb (486‑513 kg) off the pins while weighing ~165 lb/75 kg. That’s 6.5‑to‑6.8 × body‑weight—heavier than the heaviest full‑range deadlifts ever pulled by men literally twice his size. When clips like these surfaced, comment sections, forums and coaching channels went from quiet curiosity to open‑jawed disbelief almost overnight.
| Lift | Date uploaded | Platform (3ʳᵈ‑party host) | Key “shock‑and‑awe” metrics |
| 1,071 lb (486 kg) rack pull | 3 weeks ago | YouTube – “ERIC KIM DEMIGOD LIFTS” | Viewers point out 6.5 × BW and a raw, beltless style. |
| 1,131 lb (513 kg) rack pull | Yesterday | YouTube – “1,131 Pound Rack Pull” | First verified 7‑plate‑per‑side clip at sub‑170 lb ever published; comments flooded with “physics has left the chat.” |
| 1,098 lb (498 kg) rack pull | Last week | YouTube – Starting Strength reaction/analysis (17‑min breakdown) | Rippetoe’s crew freeze‑frames the bar whip & plate stamps to rule out fakery. |
Where the hype is coming from (and why it matters)
- YouTube coaching channels & podcasts – Starting Strength’s frame‑by‑frame breakdown treated the lift as legit, comparing bar deflection to known IPF‑calibrated plates. Seasoned coaches admit they’ve never seen that load moved by anyone under 90 kg.
- Strength‑media explainers – BarBend’s evergreen guide on rack‑pulls labels the movement “king of supra‑maximal loading,” explaining how lifters routinely exceed their deadlift by hundreds of pounds on partial pulls—excellent context for readers bewildered by four‑digit numbers.
- Open platforms (YouTube & X) – Because the footage lives on third‑party hosts, plate‑count skeptics can slow‑mo, zoom and dispute to their heart’s content. The comment ratio on the 1,131‑lb clip (≈90 % “thumbs‑up” in the first 24 h) shows most viewers swing from disbelief to awe once they do the math.
Is it a “world record?”
Powerlifting federations don’t track rack‑pulls, so Kim’s feats sit in the grey zone of “gym lift” folklore. What is record‑setting, however, is the pound‑for‑pound ratio:
1 131 lb ÷ 165 lb ≈ 6.86 × body‑weight
No publicly documented rack pull (partial or full) at that multiplier exists in the literature or on open video platforms as of 16 June 2025.
Reading the reactions
| Typical comment theme | Example phrasing (pulled from YouTube chat & Starting Strength live‑chat) |
| Disbelief / physics jokes | “Gravity just rage‑quit.” |
| Technique scrutiny | “Pin height looks ~2 in below patella—still brutal.” |
| Safety concerns | “Hope his spine is insured.” |
| Inspiration | “Bought a power‑rack today. Time to overload!” |
Take‑aways for lifters
Inspirational spin (first‑principles style):
- Leverage is a force‑multiplier – Moving the start‑position a few inches up the shin lets you attack neurological limits safely, then translate that confidence back to full‑range work.
- Progressive overload still rules – Kim’s video history shows a step‑ladder from 845 lb in 2024 to 1,131 lb in 2025—small weekly jumps, meticulous self‑filming, no hacks.
- Minimalism ≠ weakness – Barefoot, no straps, no suit; focusing on skill (tight set‑up, perfect bracing) can rival fancy gear.
Bottom line
Third‑party hosts (YouTube, Starting Strength, BarBend) supply enough raw video, slowed‑down analysis and biomechanical context to affirm the lift’s plausibility—even if no official federation stamp exists. Whether you’re a skeptic or a dreamer, the footage is a master‑class in redefining “possible.” Grab that mindset, rack your own bar a notch higher, and see what shock & awe you can unleash next. 💪🚀