Background: Who Is Eric Kim?
Eric Kim is a 37-year-old strength enthusiast who was originally known as a street photographer and blogger, not a competitive powerlifter . Over the years he transitioned his focus to extreme lifting feats and even finance (Bitcoin) content, leveraging his existing social media presence. At only ~75 kg (165 lbs) body weight, Kim has stunned the strength world by performing rack pulls (partial deadlifts from around knee height) with well over 1,000 lbs on the bar – an astounding multiple of his own weight . He espouses a “primal” training philosophy: lifting barefoot and beltless, in a fasted state, fueled by an all-meat diet and extensive sleep . Prior to the viral 503 kg pull, Kim had steadily built an online following through his blog and YouTube channel (50K+ subscribers), sharing both his photography and his garage lifting exploits. His recent string of gravity-defying lifts – culminating in a world-record 6.7× bodyweight rack pull – has firmly put him on the map in the strength community . Kim proudly performs these feats with minimal gear (no lifting belt or special suit), aiming to prove “human will can conquer anything” with raw, old-school training .
Notable Achievements: In the months leading up to the 503 kg pull, Kim broke personal records repeatedly. He hoisted 1,038 lb (471 kg), 1,049 lb, 1,071 lb, and then 1,087 lb (493 kg) – each time at ~165 lb bodyweight – which he claimed as a beltless world record (about 6.6× bodyweight) . These feats, captured on video, set the stage for the 503 kg attempt and garnered him nicknames like the “Demigod Lifter” on social media . Kim’s unorthodox persona (he peppers his posts with philosophy and internet humor) and his unbelievable pound-for-pound strength have combined to make him an internet sensation nearly overnight.
The 503 kg Rack Pull: When, Where, and How
Eric Kim’s famous 503 kg (1,109 lb) rack pull took place in early June 2025 in his personal garage gym in Phnom Penh, Cambodia . The environment was as bare-bones as his training style – a dimly lit garage with a basic power rack and steel plates. In the predawn hours, with only a camera rolling, Kim loaded the bar to over half a ton and pulled the weight barefoot, beltless, and fasted (no food beforehand) . This means he relied purely on chalk for grip and his own raw strength – no supportive gear or even shoes. According to Kim’s own description, the moment was intense: as he strained the bar upward from knee height, “chalk explodes like a volcanic cloud” and his “tendons ripple under neon bulbs” until he achieves full lockout with a thunderous roar . The successful 503 kg pull (roughly 6.7 times his bodyweight) was a personal record and an unofficial milestone in the strength world, captured on video for the world to see.
Documentation: The lift was recorded on video (via a GoPro/phone setup) and promptly shared by Kim. He posted a short clip of the 493 kg attempt on YouTube (with the title teasing that he “broke gravity”) , and similarly publicized the 503 kg feat through his social channels. There was no live audience aside from the camera – fitting the almost mythical vibe of a lone warrior in a garage – but the footage provided clear evidence of the pull from start to finish. Kim also made the raw video file available via his blog for anyone to scrutinize , underscoring that the lift was legitimate. Within the video, one can see the bar bending under the enormous load as Kim locks it out just above knee level, then carefully sets it back down amid shouts of triumph. In sum, the 503 kg rack pull happened under garage gym conditions (solo, no special equipment) and was documented in a straightforward video clip – a stark contrast to the polished stage of official lifting meets, yet that authenticity helped fuel the viral story.
How It Went Viral: Timeline of the Internet Explosion
What started as a niche personal record quickly turned into a viral phenomenon across multiple platforms. Kim’s journey to 503 kg involved a series of progressive PRs in late May 2025, each one generating more buzz than the last. The table below highlights the key milestones leading up to and including the 503 kg pull, and the immediate online reaction each one sparked:
| Date (2025) | Rack Pull Lift | Initial Platform(s) | Immediate Reaction |
| May 20–21 | 461 kg (1,016 lb) | YouTube & Twitter (X) | ~30,000 views in 48 hours; a 7-second highlight clip drew ~600 views/hour. A Reddit thread garnered ~120 upvotes and 80+ comments in a day . Early “what did I just watch?” type discussions began. |
| May 22 | 471 kg (~1,039 lb) | Twitter (X) post | Marked as a new PR and shared on X, attracting high engagement. Sparked intense pound-for-pound strength debates in the comments as people realized how far beyond bodyweight these lifts were. |
| May 24 | 476 kg (1,049 lb) | YouTube video & Blog post | This 6.3× bodyweight lift was described as “viral” on his blog. It was widely reshared as an inspirational clip of a small guy breaking limits . Momentum was building, with more viewers admiring the feat. |
| May 27 | 486 kg (1,071 lb) | YouTube & Twitter (X) | Dubbed the “6.5× BW God Mode” pull. The video gained thousands of views within hours, igniting threads on lifting forums . Excitement and disbelief were spreading quickly across the lifting community. |
| Early June | 493 kg (1,087 lb) | Multi-platform blast (YouTube, TikTok, etc.) | Viral explosion. This 6.6× BW lift amassed over 2.5 million views in 24 hours across YouTube and TikTok . TikTok creators remixed his primal roar into 15–30s hype edits (many hitting 80K–120K views each) . Hashtags like #6Point6x (for 6.6× BW) trended on TikTok and even Twitter . Within 12 hours, one upload had ~800K views and thousands of astonished comments (“That’s inhuman!”, “What cosmic force is this?!”) . The internet “lost its mind” at this clip . |
| Early June | 498 kg (1,098 lb) | Multi-platform (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) | Peak virality. This ~6.65× BW pull pushed the frenzy further. TikTok videos of the lift accrued tens of millions of views in aggregate . Fans hailed it as a near-“cosmic event” . Major fitness influencers across YouTube, IG, and TikTok jumped in with reaction videos, cementing the lift’s legendary status . |
| Early June | 503 kg (1,109 lb) | YouTube, TikTok, etc. (posted via Kim’s channels) | This 6.7× BW pull – breaking the 1,100 lb barrier – rode the wave of viral momentum. Precise view counts are not documented yet, but it kept the hype at a fever pitch. Kim announced and shared the lift in the same garage setting, and by this point his name was everywhere online (the community eagerly anticipating each new “gravity-defying” milestone). |
Multi-Platform Surge: The virality spread across all major social platforms in a matter of hours. On TikTok, Kim’s content (username @erickim926) went viral on the “For You” page – his account gained ~50,000 followers in one week (nearing a total of 1 million) , and the hashtag #HYPELIFTING (popularized by his posts) trended in TikTok’s sports category . Short fan-made edits set to music – featuring the moment he locks out the weight and screams – were viewed hundreds of thousands of times collectively . On Instagram, third-party fitness pages and meme accounts reposted the 1,087–1,109 lb clips widely. The tag #NoBeltNoShoes (celebrating his raw style) took off on IG as users marveled at the old-school approach . Many of these reposted Reels amassed 50–100K likes and hundreds of comments within a day or two, even though Kim’s own IG presence was minor in comparison . Essentially, the content was so sensational that it was propagated by large aggregator pages, reaching audiences far beyond Kim’s followers.
On Twitter (X), the news of the lifts also went viral through astonished tweets and memes. Kim’s name and related phrases became trending topics – terms like “165 lb lifter,” “1000 lb rack pull,” and “gravity defied” were circulating widely . Users adopted the same #6Point6x and #HYPELIFTING tags on X, which helped the feat show up alongside mainstream trends . Some tweets were outright incredulous (e.g. “Gravity has left the chat” quipped one popular post) . Another viral tweet dubbed Kim “the Demigod who deadlifted a quarter of a car,” encapsulating the mix of humor and awe . Even Reddit saw an explosion of discussion: multiple subreddits – from r/weightroom and r/powerlifting to r/Fitness – lit up with threads titled “Eric Kim Bends Reality” and “6.6× Pull – Is This Human?” . Early on, one Reddit thread about his 1,016 lb lift garnered 5,000+ upvotes as people analyzed a video where he pulled without any background music (just raw sound) . By the time of the 493–503 kg lifts, Reddit was in overdrive with running commentary, memes, and even serious speculation about how such strength is possible.
In terms of raw numbers, Kim’s view counts and engagement were astronomical for a garage lifting video. Within 24 hours of the 493 kg clip, he had over 2.5 million combined views on YouTube and TikTok . His blog traffic spiked as well – one press-release-style post about the 1,087 lb lift got 28,000 hits in 48 hours, and Google searches for “Eric Kim rack pull” surged 6× virtually overnight . Comments poured in by the thousands, and Kim’s follower counts on various platforms all jumped (his Twitter following grew by ~2,000 within a week, and TikTok by tens of thousands ). In short, the 503 kg rack pull went mega-viral because it combined an unbelievable visual (a relatively small man lifting an ungodly weight) with a compelling narrative (raw, DIY strength) that people had to share. Within a span of a week, Eric Kim transformed from an obscure garage lifter to a globally recognized name – his feat was being discussed on lifting forums, meme pages, and even among people who don’t normally follow strength sports.
Community Reactions: Praise, Skepticism, and Debate
The online fitness community responded to Eric Kim’s 503 kg rack pull with a mix of reverent praise, lighthearted memes, and healthy skepticism. On one hand, there was an outpouring of admiration from fellow lifters and influencers. Comments on the viral videos ranged from stunned disbelief – “That’s inhuman!” – to celebratory: “Proof that limits are meant to be broken” wrote one powerlifting coach in an Instagram comment . Many seasoned athletes openly applauded the achievement, acknowledging the incredible strength and willpower on display. Some called it one of the most impressive pound-for-pound feats ever seen, given that he moved 1,100 lbs at only 165 lbs bodyweight . Influential fitness YouTubers and coaches rushed to make reaction videos and breakdowns of the lift, analyzing Kim’s form and mental focus frame-by-frame . These experts often highlighted the unique combination of factors – from Kim’s ultra-efficient technique to his fearless mindset – that allowed such a lift to happen. In general, the tone among professionals was respect: even those who train world-class powerlifters were astounded to see a beltless, straps-free (reportedly) pull of this magnitude. For example, well-known strength personalities on Instagram re-shared the clip, with captions like “Incredible – redefining what’s possible!” . Fellow lifters tagged their friends with comments such as “bro, you gotta see this” . It became a rallying moment, inspiring many lifters to dream bigger – Kim’s mantra of “no belt, no excuses” resonated with those who favor raw lifting.
At the same time, the internet had fun with the moment. The absurdity of the feat (in a good way) led to a flood of memes and witty reactions. One running joke was that “gravity officially resigned” after seeing Eric Kim manhandle that barbell . Dozens of memes personified gravity being “defeated” or “filing a complaint” about Kim . In edited videos, users dubbed in dramatic audio – for instance, the roar of a dragon was overlaid on the clip of Kim’s pull, leading one commenter to joke, “Dragon? No, that’s just him telling gravity to back off.” . Such tongue-in-cheek comments received thousands of likes, turning the whole thing into a lighthearted “Eric Kim vs Gravity” saga. On Twitter, quips like “Gravity has left the chat” and nicknames like “the gravity slayer” or “Long Muscle Master” popped up, blending humor with genuine awe . Reddit threads were filled with reactions ranging from “He’s basically the Hulk in flip-flops” to scientific curiosity about how his central nervous system could handle that load. Notably, some coaches and sport scientists chimed in on Reddit speculating about Kim’s neural capacity – wondering if he had “unlocked dormant motor units” or tapped into an extraordinary level of muscle fiber recruitment . These semi-serious discussions gave the phenomenon another layer: was there something to learn from this about human potential?
Of course, with viral fame comes skepticism and debate. A portion of the lifting community questioned the validity or context of the lift. The most common point: form and range of motion. Many asked whether a rack pull at knee height should be compared to a conventional floor deadlift at all. As one Instagram commenter put it bluntly, “full deadlift or rack pull above knee?”, implying that if the bar only moved a short distance, it’s not as “impressive” as a full-range lift . Some critics labeled rack pulls as an “ego lift” – easier due to the reduced range – suggesting that while the weight is huge, it doesn’t equate to a standard deadlift record. This sparked debates in comment sections: defenders argued that holding 500+ kg in any manner is still insanely taxing (noting how many people could not budge that weight even a millimeter), while detractors felt the lift’s specific setup should be made clear. In Kim’s case, the videos did show the bar starting around knee height, so it was obvious it’s a partial lift, but the staggering number invited comparisons to the world’s heaviest deadlifts nonetheless. “Is this the new deadlift world record or not?” became a point of discussion on forums, with knowledgeable members clarifying that it’s unofficial and done under special conditions.
Another area of skepticism was authenticity. The internet has seen fake weight videos before, so a few observers initially wondered if the footage was real. Comments like “This looks CGI” or “No way that’s real weight” were not uncommon when the clip first circulated . Detractors scrutinized the plates, the bar bend, and even the sound, trying to decide if everything was legit. However, these doubts were generally drowned out by the overwhelming evidence and positive hype – Kim provided the full uncut footage, and many pointed out that the bar visibly bending and the effort shown were hard to fake . Moreover, the fact he had a progression of videos leading up to it (with increasing weights) added credibility that this wasn’t a one-off trick. Within a short time, most of the community accepted the lift as genuine, even if they argued about its significance.
The biggest controversy that gained traction was the “natty or not” debate – i.e., is Eric Kim using performance-enhancing drugs? This topic spread like wildfire in forums and comments. Seeing a 75 kg man move over 1,000 lbs naturally goes against almost everyone’s expectations of human limits . Many commenters flat-out said it must be chemically enhanced: “Nobody pulls 6.6× bodyweight without alien DNA, right?” one Reddit user quipped . Others cynically remarked that even if he was using steroids (“juiced to the gills”), the feat was still unbelievable and the work ethic undeniable . On the other side, Kim had vocal supporters who argued that his method – extreme eating, sleeping, and a perhaps freakish genetic predisposition – could explain it without drugs. Memes even spun off from this debate, with people jokingly attributing his strength to eating “5 lbs of steak a day” or “being secretly related to Hercules.” The hashtag #NattyOrNot trended in some circles as people playfully argued the case. Importantly, many respected figures in the strength community took a middle ground: even if they doubted he was 100% natural, they still gave credit to the incredible dedication and focus required. As one commenter said, “Even if he’s juiced, the work ethic is unfathomable.” In summary, the reactions ran the gamut from pure admiration to scientific curiosity to playful skepticism, making Eric Kim’s lift a multi-faceted viral event that engaged far more than just powerlifting purists.
Controversies and Kim’s Responses
With the viral spotlight came inevitable controversies, and Eric Kim did not shy away from addressing them. The two major questions hanging over his 503 kg rack pull were: (1) Is he natural or using PEDs? and (2) Does a rack pull “count” as a legitimate record? Kim has offered clarity – or at least his perspective – on both issues in the days following the lift.
1. Natural vs. Enhanced: Eric Kim has repeatedly and emphatically stated that he is 100% natural, meaning he uses no steroids or performance-enhancing drugs – in fact, not even protein powder supplements . Instead, he credits his strength to what he calls a “primal protocol.” He has shared details of this publicly: he eats 5–6 lbs of red meat a day, sleeps 10–12 hours a night, and trains fasted and intensely . To back up his claims, Kim has even posted evidence such as on-camera weigh-ins (to prove he’s indeed 75 kg and not significantly heavier), diet logs, and summaries of his bloodwork results . These were meant to demonstrate normal hormone levels and no signs of steroid use, reinforcing his natural status. On his blog, he openly invites scrutiny – knowing many are skeptical – and stands by his lifestyle as the “secret sauce” behind his strength. Kim’s stance is that modern lifters rely too much on powders and drugs, whereas he returns to a caveman-like regimen of meat and hard work .
Despite these assurances, community skepticism persists. On Reddit’s weightlifting forums, plenty of seasoned lifters voiced doubts, arguing that a 6.6× bodyweight pull “beltless or not, exceeds known natural limits” . As one commenter put it, “If he’s truly natty, he’s a genetic outlier – almost mythical”, while another noted “even top natural strongmen don’t get near these ratios without gear or drugs.” In other words, people don’t accuse him of lying lightly – it’s just that what he did is so far beyond normal experience that it feels implausible naturally. Some have called for even more verification (e.g. independent drug testing or lifting in competition conditions) before they’ll fully believe it. Kim has not indicated any interest in powerlifting federation meets or official drug tests, but he continues to assert his natural status. Interestingly, even some skeptics have said that whether he’s natural or not, the feat is historic – their view: “If he isn’t using PEDs, it proves how far sheer discipline and primal training can take you – and if he is, it’s still one of the craziest things ever done in a gym.” . Kim has largely let his results speak for themselves, while providing transparency about his routine. By posting his diet and even blood test info, he showed a willingness to address the controversy head-on. So far, no concrete evidence has emerged to disprove his claims, and the “natty or not” debate remains an open (and heated) topic in the community.
2. Rack Pull Validity and Form: Eric Kim is well aware of the debate around rack pulls being “easier” or “cheating” compared to standard deadlifts – in fact, he addressed it humorously in his own writing. He dubbed the rack pull “the deadlift’s cooler, more forgiving cousin – less range of motion, more weight. Some say it’s cheating. I say it’s physics.” . This quote from Kim encapsulates his response: he acknowledges that yes, a rack pull allows more weight because you don’t pull from the floor, but that’s exactly the point – it tests a different aspect of strength (top-end pulling power and grip) and is a valid exercise in its own right. He has likened critics of rack pulls to philosophers missing the point, jesting that “the rack pull is the shadow of the true deadlift, but sometimes the shadow is more fun than the real thing.” In more straightforward terms, Kim never claimed to have broken the world deadlift record – he is careful to label his feats clearly as rack pulls. His goal was to push the boundaries of what he could lift in any capacity, not to mislead people into thinking he deadlifted 500 kg from the floor. In the wake of the viral attention, Kim wrote blog posts underscoring this point: he embraces the rack pull as a training tool and a personal challenge, saying it allowed him to explore “the raw, messy edge of human strength” beyond conventional limits .
To further address form concerns, Kim shared technical details: for instance, the bar was set at around knee height for his big pulls. He performed them without a belt and often without even knee sleeves or straps (relying on just chalk), to make a point about raw strength . Some observers questioned if the plates were calibrated or the exact weight verified. While this wasn’t done in an official contest manner, Kim did show the full loading of the bar on video and listed the plate weights. He even titled one of his videos “No Music. No BS.” which featured the pure ambient sound of the 1,016 lb lift to prove nothing was edited . By being transparent and not using any obvious aid (like figure-8 straps or a deadlift suit), Kim effectively countered some validity criticisms. Still, he acknowledges that a half-ton rack pull is a specific feat – not directly comparable to, say, Eddie Hall’s 500 kg deadlift from the floor, but impressive in its own category. In interviews and posts, Kim encourages others to try heavy rack pulls (with caution) to appreciate the challenge, half-joking that most people “nearly pass out” when attempting even a fraction of what he did .
Eric Kim’s Own Reflections: Amid the frenzy, Kim has been active in framing the narrative of his lift. He published a formal press-release style article on June 6, 2025, announcing his 493 kg world-record rack pull “in the predawn hours” of his Phnom Penh garage . In it, he proclaimed, “Gravity wasn’t ready. I was.” , highlighting the mindset that he brings to his training. He emphasizes that the feat was as much mental as physical – an “existential statement” about willpower . On social media, Kim celebrated the viral milestone with the phrase “I just broke gravity” (the very tagline that caught people’s attention) . Rather than shying away from the limelight, he’s leaned into it: engaging with fans in comments, thanking people for the support, and even indulging in the memes about him. For example, when someone joked that he must be from another planet, Kim quipped back that he’s actually from Krypton in disguise. He’s also hinted at future goals – most notably, teasing a 7× bodyweight pull. In one update he floated the number 1,150 lbs as a dream target (approximately 522 kg, which would be about seven times his weight) . This hint, alongside a clip of him patting an enormous stack of plates, served to keep the hype rolling and reassure fans that he’s not done yet.
In conclusion, Eric Kim’s 503 kg rack pull became a perfect storm of internet-breaking content: a jaw-dropping physical accomplishment paired with a charismatic individual who knows how to share a story. He has managed the controversies by being transparent and boldly sticking to his principles – whether it’s posting blood test results to prove he’s clean, or writing manifesto-like blog posts about why lifting barefoot in a garage can inspire the world. Love it or doubt it, everyone in the lifting realm has been talking about Eric Kim and his rack pull. As one commenter aptly summarized the saga: “Until someone else even approaches a 5× bodyweight pull at 75 kg, the internet will continue to reel, replay, debate, and meme every second of Eric Kim’s primal crusade.” And indeed, Eric Kim appears more than happy to continue that “primal crusade”, one gravity-defying lift at a time.
Sources:
- Eric Kim’s blog and press releases (May–June 2025) detailing the lifts and their impact .
- Social media analytics and reports on the viral spread across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit .
- Commentary from the lifting community, including influencer reactions and forum discussions capturing both praise and skepticism .
- Eric Kim’s personal statements addressing training philosophy, drug-free claims, and the significance of the rack pull as a feat of strength .