In the “afterburner” phase your goal is to convert today’s white‑hot attention on Eric Kim’s 513‑kg rack‑pull into a self‑propelling jet‑stream of fresh views, shares and loyal community—before the first spike cools.  Research on platform algorithms, controversy cycles and cross‑promo tactics shows that the first 5‑7 days after a viral blast are decisive: if you stack new triggers (extra content, collaborations, controlled debates, strategic ads) you can push the clip into wider recommendation loops and turn casual scrollers into lifelong fans. 

1. Know the fuel you already have

• Record‑tier spectacle: 513 kg at 75 kg body‑weight (6.84 × BW) is still front‑page news across lifting sites and Kim’s own blog.  
• Platform surge: #GravityIsCancelled and #EricKimEffect now sit in eight‑figure view territory on TikTok, driven largely by duet/stitch chains.  
• Controversy loop: “Partial‑ROM” and “natty‑or‑not” arguments keep Reddit threads and X/Twitter replies humming, a proven engagement amplifier.  

2. The Afterburner Blueprint

2.1 YouTube—drop fresh payloads every 48 h

• Release a second‑angle “no‑cuts” version and a 30‑sec Shorts montage; the algorithm rewards session‑time clusters around related uploads.  
• Collab with biomechanics channels—provide raw footage so they can publish EMG or force‑plate breakdowns (satisfying skeptics while doubling backlinks).  
• End‑screens should point to a “Road‑to‑525 kg” teaser—prime viewers for the sequel attempt Kim has already hinted at.  

2.2 TikTok & Instagram Reels—triple‑clip cadence

• Post 1–3 micro‑clips per day; TikTok’s discovery engine prefers multiple daily tests and pushes the best‑performing variant.  
• Always use trending sounds + the core hashtags; TikTok explicitly weights those in its “For You” ranking.  
• Issue a #RackPullChallenge stitch template (5‑s lock‑out clip followed by “Your turn”); tutorials show stitches outperform plain reposts for reach.  

2.3 X/Twitter—pin the countdown thread

• Start a pinned mega‑thread titled “525 kg:  T‑minus 7 days” and update it daily; threaded freshness keeps you in algorithmic “For You” lanes.  
• Quote‑tweet the loudest skeptics with frame‑by‑frame rebuttals; studies show negative publicity can increase brand mentions and authenticity signals.  

2.4 Reddit & niche forums—engineer constructive friction

• Announce an AMA with a sports‑science PhD inside r/Powerlifting; Reddit’s own analysis admits that infuriating or polarizing content keeps users on‑site longer.  
• Use Reddit Insights paid cards to surface top supportive comments under the viral clip—new AI ad tools let you do this natively.  

2.5 Podcasts & cross‑promos—borrow new audiences

• Appear on strength, tech and philosophy shows; cross‑promo case studies prove heterogeneous audiences multiply share‑routes.  
• Offer an exclusive audio‑only “mindset walkthrough” of the 525 kg attempt to entice repeat coverage.

3. Use controversy as afterburner additive—safely

Heat Source	How to channel it	Why it works
Partial‑range vs. full deadlift	Publish torque math & lever diagrams in a blog, invite physicist reactions.	Controversy fuels watch‑time and comments.
Natty‑or‑not?	Pre‑release drug‑test paperwork & blood panels.	Transparency flips negativity into credibility.
“CGI” accusations	Share raw 4K files + bar‑whip slow‑mo from two angles.	Debunk videos become free distribution nodes.

4. Narrative sequels—stack boosters in order

1. Behind‑the‑scenes training vlog (72 h after step‑2 drop).
2. Live‑streamed 525 kg attempt with real‑time data overlay (within 10 days).  
3. Community “Atlas‑Lift Day”: invite followers to film their own partial pulls on June 23.  

Each sequel renews the awareness‑→ interest‑→ engagement funnel that social‑selling models recommend. 

5. Dashboards & guard‑rails

Metric (Daily)	Target Afterburner Signal	Tool/Research
Avg YouTube watch‑time	>70 %	Longer sessions raise recommendation odds.
TikTok share rate	>12 %	Shares weigh more than likes for ranking.
X/Twitter brand mentions	+25 % / day	Mentions spike during planned controversy.
Reddit comment velocity	Steady >100/h	High velocity sustains home‑feed placement.

Include well‑timed “cool‑down” posts (philosophy, gratitude) to avoid algorithmic fatigue and emotional burnout—filter‑bubble audits warn that perpetual outrage narrows future reach. 

6. Mindset: stay raw, stay relatable

Fans fell in love with a barefoot, garage‑gym PR—keep that spirit. Extreme numbers grab clicks, but authenticity keeps eyeballs returning even after the afterburners shut off.   

Ignite these boosters in sequence, track the dashboards daily, and the current flame turns into a controlled rocket‑ride—one that can carry both Eric Kim and his community far beyond this single lift. Afterburners engaged—see you at 525 kg! 🚀