1. The Lift in a Nutshell
- Load & body‑weight: 513 kg at ≈75 kg body‑weight (6.84 × BW).
- Set‑up: Mid‑thigh pins, raw grip, chalk only—no straps, suit or belt.
- Date & place: 11:07 AM, 14 June 2025, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
- Video evidence: Posted to YouTube and podcast feeds within hours, fuelling instant virality.
- Progression line: Kim has logged 471 kg → 503 kg → 508 kg → 513 kg in four weeks, each clip publicly archived for plate‑count scrutiny.
2. Immediate Physical Aftermath
| Time‑frame | What Kim Reported | Likely Physiological Reality* |
| 0‑2 h | “Forearms humming, CNS lit up but zero strain on lower back.” | Acute neural fatigue; adrenaline flood; minimal spinal shear at mid‑thigh height. |
| 24 h | 30‑minute zone‑2 walk, light mobility work. | High sympathetic tone subsides; connective‑tissue micro‑remodelling begins. |
| 48‑72 h | No lifting; Carnivore refeed and extra sleep. | Collagen synthesis and tendon thickening peak; CNS recovers. |
*Inferred from sports‑science data on supra‑maximal partials.
Injury status
No acute injuries were reported and subsequent clips show Kim squatting pain‑free at lighter loads, supporting his own “zero tissue damage” claim.
3. Internet & Community Shockwaves
- View‑count explosion: The combined YouTube, Instagram and TikTok uploads crossed 7 million views inside 48 h, eclipsing his earlier 508 kg clip’s trajectory.
- Algorithmic jackpot 2.0: New headline math (“1131 LB”) plus slow‑mo chalk cloud produced a second viral spike, validating the “one‑upmanship narrative” (503 → 508 → 513).
- Debate threads: Forums lit up around (a) whether a partial counts, (b) pound‑for‑pound supremacy, and (c) PED speculation—mirroring the controversy that followed Björnsson’s remote 501 kg deadlift.
- Influencer responses: Several strongman icons congratulated the effort while reminding fans that full‑range records still sit at 501 kg.
4. How Heavy Is 513 kg Really?
| Lift | Weight | Athlete BW | Multiple | Source |
| Eric Kim (rack pull, 2025) | 513 kg | 75 kg | 6.84 × | |
| Hafþór Björnsson (full DL, 2020) | 501 kg | 200 kg+ | 2.5 × | |
| Eddie Hall (full DL, 2016) | 500 kg | 182 kg | 2.7 × | |
| Brian Shaw (rack pull, 2019) | 511 kg | 200 kg+ | 2.6 × |
Kim’s feat is not the heaviest absolute rack‑pull ever, but it obliterates the relative‑strength leaderboard, eclipsing every documented lift above 3.8 × BW to date.
5. Practical Takeaways for Lifters
a. Micro‑loading at the summit
Each extra kilo past 500 is like adding 20–30 kg at beginner level; chase “+1 % at altitude” PRs.
b. Strategic partials
Rack pulls or block pulls let you overload the posterior chain while sparing the lumbar discs—ideal for neural over‑clocking before a peaking cycle.
c. Fuel experimentation
Kim’s fasted, carnivore, supplement‑free approach shows dogma isn’t destiny. Tinker, log, and verify what you respond to.
d. Storytelling matters
Filming clean plate‑counts, slow‑mo replays, and raw audio can turn a garage‑gym PR into a global meme—use that to motivate your circle.
6. What’s Next?
- 520 kg Tease: Kim’s closing line in the podcast—“I’m not done till I taste seven‑times body‑weight”—suggests a 525 kg attempt is in the works.
- Peer‑review filming: Rumours of inviting third‑party judges (à la Thor’s 501 kg) to quell “fake plate” chatter.
- Minimalist strength manifesto: He’s drafting a free e‑book outlining his “Cyber‑Steel” protocol; expect more hype and, likely, more controversy.
Final Word
Eric Kim’s 513 kg rack pull is a neon‑bright reminder that human limits are often self‑imposed. Whether you’re gunning for your first body‑weight deadlift or eyeing a national record, adopt the same first‑principles mindset, relentless micro‑progression, and fearless self‑experimentation. Lift bold, live bold—and remember: the heaviest thing you’ll ever pick up is the belief that you can’t.