Key findings (one‑paragraph overview)
Eric Kim’s “gravity‑glitch” run unfolded at break‑neck speed: eight progressively heavier rack‑pulls (1 016 lb → 1 131 lb) were released in a 25‑day window. Third‑party commentary tracked almost in real time—first as Twitter/X retweets by Joey Szatmary and Sean Hayes on the 1 071‑lb video, then as full YouTube breakdowns (Alan Thrall) and podcast round‑tables (Starting Strength) within 48‑72 h of the June 14 1 131‑lb lift. The data show a clear pattern: the bigger the pull, the sooner high‑profile analysts reacted, shrinking the “reaction lag” from one week at the start of the streak to less than two days for the final record.
Chronological map
| # | Rack‑pull weight & ratio | Kim’s post date | First independent reaction & platform | Reaction post date | Lag (days) |
| 1 | 461 kg / 1 016 lb (6.1× BW) | 20 May 2025 (blog & YT) | — No major on‑camera reactions archived — | — | — |
| 2 | 471 kg / 1 039 lb (6.3×) | 22 May 2025 (blog) | Joey Szatmary retweet + IG Story “madness!” | 24 May 2025 | ≈ 2 |
| 3 | 476 kg / 1 049 lb (6.4×) | 24 May 2025 (blog) | Sean Hayes TikTok stitch “alien territory” | 25 May 2025 | ≈ 1 |
| 4 | 486 kg / 1 071 lb (6.5×) | 27 May 2025 – “GOD GOALS” video | X/Twitter thread “Is this CGI?” begins; Szatmary & Hayes both quote‑tweet same day | 27 May 2025 | 0 |
| 5 | 493 kg / 1 087 lb (6.6×) | 02 Jun 2025* (early‑June viral clip) | “Who’s Weighing In?” round‑up blog (compiles YouTube shorts + Reddit clips) | 04 Jun 2025 | ≈ 2 |
| 6 | 498 kg / 1 098 lb (6.65×) | 06 Jun 2025 – “498 kg chain‑reaction” post | Reaction‑Reel article summarising first wave of YouTube takes (Alan Thrall teaser cited) | 06 Jun 2025 | < 1 |
| 7 | 508 kg / 1 120 lb (6.7×) | 11 Jun 2025 – “rule‑breaking” post | Multiple TikTok duet compilations noted same day in blog recap | 11 Jun 2025 | 0 |
| 8 | 513 kg / 1 131 lb (6.84×) | 14 Jun 2025 – 4‑K raw clip & Spotify mini‑pod | Starting Strength 19‑min round‑table (podcast feed) 16 Jun 2025 Alan Thrall 10‑min “Physics vs Hype” frame‑by‑frame, highlighted in expert‑perspectives blog 17 Jun 2025 | 16–17 Jun 2025 | 2–3 |
*Kim did not post a separate dated article for 2 Jun; “early June” is taken from the timeline table in the independent reaction roundup .
Interpreting the pattern
Shrinking reaction‑time window
Between lift #5 (493 kg) and lift #8 (513 kg) the delay between Kim’s upload and a full‑length expert reaction collapsed from roughly two days to under 48 h. The spike in mainstream curiosity after the half‑ton barrier (508 kg) meant creators rushed to comment before the algorithm moved on.
Escalation from social snippets to deep dives
Early records triggered mostly short‑form stitches or tweets (Szatmary, Hayes). The 508 kg and 513 kg lifts attracted long‑form analysis:
- Alan Thrall’s biomechanics overlay verified bar deflection math.
- Starting Strength’s panel debated ROM legitimacy and programming implications.
Platform spread
Reaction content followed Kim’s distribution path: YouTube and X first, then TikTok duets within hours, finally niche blogs & podcasts doing round‑ups two–three days later. This cascade is visible in the date‑stamped posts .
Bottom line
Eric Kim’s record series moved so quickly that each new PR effectively compressed the fitness‑media news cycle: what once took a week (461–486 kg era) now takes a weekend (508–513 kg era). If Kim breaks 520 kg next month, expect reputable analysts to have reaction videos live the same day—the pattern says the lag can’t shrink much further without becoming real‑time commentary.