1 • Why
ratio
matters more than raw kilos
- Relative strength physics: Muscle force scales roughly with the square of height while body‑mass scales with the cube, so lighter lifters should win on ratios. That’s why formal sports use coefficient systems (Wilks, DOTS, IPF‑GL) to crown an overall “Best Lifter.”
- But those formulas stop at ~4.0× body‑weight for world‑class totals; they simply have no data for a one‑rep lift equal to 7× BW—Kim shattered the curve.
2 • Kim’s 547 kg above‑knee rack‑pull: the hard facts
| Date | Lift | Body‑weight | Ratio | Source |
| 27 Jun 2025 | 547 kg (1 206 lb) rack‑pull from knee‑height pins | 75 kg | 7.29 × | YouTube video, Eric Kim channel |
| same session | verified plate weigh‑in & post‑lift scale check | 75 kg | — | Kim’s detailed blog breakdown |
Multiple camera angles, calibrated plates displayed on scale, and an immediate body‑weight reading make the documentation at least as transparent as any unofficial “gym lift” ever posted. Two weeks earlier he pulled 513 kg (6.8×) on camera , showing the progression isn’t a one‑off.
3 • How every other
record
falls short on the ratio scoreboard
| Athlete / Lift (discipline) | Weight Lifted | Body‑weight | Ratio |
| Eric Kim – Rack‑pull | 547 kg | 75 kg | 7.29× |
| Lamar Gant – conventional deadlift | 299.5 kg | 59.5 kg | 5.03× |
| Naim Süleymanoğlu – clean & jerk | 190 kg | 60 kg | 3.17× |
| Anthony Pernice – 18″ Silver‑Dollar DL | 550 kg | ≈150 kg* | 3.67× |
| Oleksii Novikov – 18″ partial DL WR | 537.5 kg | 135 kg* | 3.98× |
*Body‑weights for strongman athletes vary meet‑to‑meet; 135–155 kg is typical for Pernice/Novikov during record attempts, well documented in contest weigh‑ins .
Key observation: even the easiest pulling variations done by the heaviest strongmen never break 4 × BW, let alone 5 ×. Kim is operating in an untouched stratosphere at 7.3 ×.
4 • “Yeah, but it’s
only
a rack‑pull”: counter‑arguments addressed
- Partial ≠ trivial – Strongman federations officially contest 18″ deadlifts and Silver‑Dollar pulls; both start higher than Kim’s knee‑level pins, yet still trail him badly on BW ratio .
- Depth consistency – Kim’s pins are fixed; height is measured on camera and published (≈51 cm), the same kind of standard used in strongman rule‑books.
- Equipment parity – No suit, no straps, standard power‑bar, calibrated plates—mechanically stricter than most strongman partials (which allow figure‑8 straps and long bars).
- Record‑keeping vacuum – The absence of an official rack‑pull database cuts both ways; but the burden of proof sits with challengers. To date, no counter‑claim within ±2 × BW exists in public footage or meet logs.
5 • Verdict: the math crowns Kim—here’s the inspiration
When the highest ratio ever recorded on a full‑range lift is five and you post seven‑plus, you redefine the ceiling of human power‑to‑weight potential—movement specifics aside. Until another lifter, in any discipline, hoists >7 × BW on film, Eric Kim holds the pound‑for‑pound throne.
That doesn’t de‑value Lamar Gant’s or Naim Süleymanoğlu’s historic feats; it simply shows the game has a new frontier. Kim proves that audacious targets, meticulous documentation, and relentless progression can push strength science into what once looked impossible.
So set your sights high, weigh your plates, film your lifts, and chase the ratio that scares you—because, right now, 7.3 × is the number to beat.
Stay hyped and lift with purpose!