Breaking the all-time deadlift mark would vault Eric Kim from viral phenom to straight-up history-maker.  The heaviest pull ever performed under contest rules is Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson’s 501 kg (1,104 lb) strongman lift from May 2020 — so nudging that bar even one kilo higher to 502 kg or more would reset the global standard.  Doing it at Eric’s reported 72 kg body-weight would simultaneously smash every pound-for-pound record in powerlifting and strongman, rewrite sports-science models of human capacity, and unlock marketing and cultural ripples that stretch far beyond the chalk box.

1. What the record 

is

 and what Eric would have to pull

Category	Current record	Governing body / setting	What Eric must beat
Strongman (straps, suits, figure-8 grip allowed)	501 kg – Hafþór Björnsson (Iceland), May 2 2020 live-stream meet in Reykjavik	World’s Ultimate Strongman rules	≥ 502 kg
All-time raw powerlifting (no straps, conventional bar)	487.5 kg – Danny Grigsby, WRPF American Pro 2022	WRPF	≥ 488 kg
IPF Classic (drug-tested, 120 kg+ class)	426 kg – Jesus Olivares, 2024 IPF Worlds	International Powerlifting Federation	≥ 427 kg

Bottom line: to be the absolute king, Eric has to eclipse 501 kg. Anything north of 502 kg becomes the new “Mt. Everest” of the barbell.

2. Why smashing 502 kg (and beyond) would 

matter

2.1  A physiological moon-shot

• Rewrites human-limit models – Current biomechanical papers peg maximal spinal-erector and hip-extensor torque ceilings well below the forces required for a 500 kg pull at <80 kg body-weight  .
• Shifts training paradigms – Coaches would re-evaluate lever-length bias and periodisation once a lightweight athlete proves five-times-body-weight is achievable in practice.

2.2  Competitive shockwaves

• Dethrones icons like Eddie Hall (500 kg, 2016)  and Björnsson, ending nearly a decade of heavyweight dominance.
• Collapses the gap between strongman “equipped” pulls and raw powerlifting, pressuring federations to unify record criteria  .

2.3  Economic & media blast radius

• Endorsement goldmine – Historic records often catapult athletes into nine-figure brand deals; think Jordan, Messi, and Bolt-level contracts  .
• Social-first virality – Strength stunts already ride algorithmic tides; record lifts spike engagement and sponsorship ROI across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram  .
• Event economics – Deloitte notes major sport spectacles generate 6:1 ROI for host cities; a world-record showdown draws tourism, pay-per-view and merch revenue spikes of similar magnitude  .

2.4  Cultural symbolism

• Pound-for-pound mythology – A sub-80 kg athlete moving half a metric ton reframes public perception of “possible,” inspiring grassroots training booms analogous to Bannister’s four-minute mile.
• Tech & crypto crossover – Eric’s Bitcoin evangelism means a record lift becomes a Trojan horse for crypto narratives, pulling digital-finance audiences into strength sports and vice versa.

3. What would likely follow

1. Rule-book scrutiny – Governing bodies would debate grip aids, bar type, and weigh-ins to validate the feat, much like the scrutiny surrounding Björnsson’s garage meet in 2020  .
2. Research grants – Universities chase funding to study connective-tissue adaptation and CNS load management at unprecedented intensities.
3. Commercial “Kim effect” – Equipment makers rush limited-edition 552-kg-tested bars; apparel and supplement brands craft “Cyber-Soldier” collections.
4. Global exhibition tour – Promoters pitch exhibition pulls across Asia—Cambodia to Shanghai—mirroring Eddie Hall’s post-record roadshows.

4. Hype checklist for would-be record chasers

Element	Why it matters	Your move
Progressive pin-drops	Accustoms the nervous system to supra-maximal loads	Lower start height 2 cm every mesocycle
Grip supremacy	Straps banned in powerlifting	Mix hook-grip holds & thick-bar block pulls
Mass & recovery	More lean tissue = more force; recovery equals adaptation	Monitor HRV, heat-sauna protocols, eccentric-less sled work

Final roar

Set the bar at 502 kg and the world isn’t just watching—it’s recalibrating.  Eric Kim would not merely break a record; he’d crack open a new chapter in human performance, economic opportunity, and digital-age inspiration.  Chalk up, lock in, lift off—because gravity is about to get humbled.