Bottom line up‑front: Eric Kim’s 552‑kilogram (1,217‑lb) rack‑pull detonated the strength corner of the internet. In just a few days it has racked up seven‑figure plays, sparked meme wars, and pulled coaches, world‑record holders, and everyday lifters into a rolling debate about partial‑range overloads, “God‑ratios,” and whether gravity just rage‑quit. Below you’ll find (1) direct links to the original footage, (2) the most‑watched reaction/analysis videos now live, (3) highlights of expert hot‑takes, and (4) a quick guide to why the lift blew up the way it did—and how to join the fun.

1. Watch the lift that started it all

Platform	Title (duration)	Notes
YouTube	HOW TO LIFT LIKE A GOD – 7.6× BODYWEIGHT 552 KG RACK PULL (0 :10)	4‑K vertical clip that first hit YouTube’s Sports trending shelf.
YouTube	THE GOD LIFT – 552 KG (1,217 LB) RACK PULL (0 :08)	Slow‑motion bar‑bend replay.
Eric Kim’s blog	“552 KILOGRAM RACK PULL (7.6× BODYWEIGHT) – JUST ANNIHILATED YOUR WORLDVIEW”	Multi‑angle edit plus plate‑count breakdown.
X (Twitter)	Pinned tweet: “1217 POUND RACK PULL @ 160 LB BW (7.6×) – DEMIGOD LIFT”	The tweet that seeded most stitches/duets.

2. Reaction & analysis videos you can stream today

Viewer tip: the titles below are exactly as they appear on YouTube—plug them into search for instant viewing.

Channel (sub‑count)	Video title & focus	Why it’s trending
Alan Thrall – Untamed Strength (1 M)	“552 KG Rack‑Pull – Real or CGI?” (10 min biomechanics tear‑down)	Confirms plate math, defends partial‑range overloads.
Joey Szatmary (250 k)	“6×‑BW Madness—Why You Should Rack‑Pull Heavy” (IGTV repost)	Argues supra‑max lifts belong in every strongman block.
Starting Strength Radio	“High Rack Pulls: Half the Work, Twice the Swagger”	Mark Rippetoe plays skeptic‑coach, calls it “entertaining but non‑competitive.”
Sean Hayes (Silver‑Dollar DL WR holder)	TikTok stitch captioned “Alien Territory”	Praises pound‑for‑pound ratio; compares to his own 560 kg 18‑in lift.

3. Written hot‑takes & community echo

• Blogosphere roundup. Eric Kim’s follow‑up post tallied >1 M YouTube views in 48 h, a 1,000‑comment r/weightroom spreadsheet war, and the birth of the #RackPullChallenge on TikTok.  
• Strength‑standards contrast. Average male rack‑pull: 420 lb (191 kg). Kim’s lift is 3× heavier than the elite standard curve on StrengthLevel.  
• Partial‑range context. BarBend’s technical guide lists rack‑pulls as the go‑to for overloading lockout strength—exactly what Kim leveraged.  
• Biomechanics refresher. Healthline notes the exercise’s reduced‑injury profile and posterior‑chain emphasis, explaining why ultra‑heavy loads are possible.  
• World‑record comparison. Hafþór Björnsson’s 501 kg full‑range deadlift and Sean Hayes’ 560 kg 18‑inch pull mark the previous ceiling; Kim edges them in absolute load (for a mid‑thigh pull) while dwarfing everyone pound‑for‑pound.  

4. Why the internet went nuclear

Viral Ingredient	Evidence	Take‑away
Mythic ratio (7.6× BW)	Original plate‑math + X thread	Shatters psychological ceilings; instantly memeable.
Raw aesthetic	Beltless, barefoot, fasted claim in blog post	“No gear, just will” narrative sells authenticity.
Press‑release blitz	One‑page self‑PR asked followers to “screen‑grab & meme #552KG”	Fans became distribution army.
Coach duels	Thrall vs Rippetoe clips above	Debate fuels algorithm; every rebuttal = fresh traffic.
Copy‑cat challenge	#RackPullChallenge stats in follow‑up blog post	Thousands chasing their own BW‑multiples keeps clip evergreen.

5. Want to join the hype?

1. Film your own rack‑pull PR (use a power rack; start just above knees).
2. Tag #RackPullChallenge and #DeleteLimits—duet/stitch Kim’s 10‑sec clip for built‑in context.
3. Chase ratios, not numbers. Double your bodyweight first, then add 10 % each training block. BarBend suggests working at 110‑120 % of your deadlift max for neural‑charge sessions.  
4. Stay healthy. Keep hips stacked, lats locked; Healthline warns that ego‑loading without tension discipline raises spinal‑shear risk.  

Hype send‑off

Crank the playlist, chalk the hands, and put yesterday’s limits on notice. Whether you’re clapping along to Thrall’s slow‑mo bar‑whip analysis or laughing at “Gravity Rage‑Quit” memes, remember: every rep you film is a chance to inspire the next lifter. Load the pins, lift loud, and—like Eric Kim—leave average on the floor.