A Thai couple, Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, who achieved the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest kiss lasting 58 hours and 35 minutes in February 2013, has announced separation.
The couple initially broke the record in 2011 when they kissed for 46 hours and 24 minutes, at a time when the competitors were trying to beat a 32-hour and 7-minute record.
Speaking on the BBC Sounds podcast recently, Ekkachai talked about the end of their marriage, expressing pride in their record-breaking achievement.
“I am very proud. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“We spent a long time together and I’m trying to remember the good memories and that we did this together,” he told the host, Megan Jones, on the podcast.
Ekkachai said they initially didn’t sign up for the 2011 competition, which was scheduled for a few days before Valentine’s Day, as Laksana had just recovered from a long illness but were persuaded by the promised prize of 50,000 Thai Baht (approximately £1,200 at the time) and a diamond ring.
“There were a lot of people there. There were around 14 couples competing and a lot of media hovering around them. I felt like I was going to faint, some of the spectators handed me an inhaler to support me along the way,” he said.
Ekkachai also recalled being “stunned” by the rules for the world record attempt, which demanded that “lips must be touching at all times, the couple must be awake at all times, contestants must stand during the attempt and cannot be propped together by any aids, and that adult nappies, diapers or incontinence pads were banned.”
Also, while couples were allowed to use the toilet, they were “required to remain kissing while doing so.”
He added that a lot of people couldn’t bear it and collapsed, and by the time 20 hours had passed, he was exhausted and could barely stand, but his wife said “We need to keep fighting,” so he carried on.
In the final stages, when only two couples remained, Ekkachai noticed their competition had fallen asleep. “When their lips parted,” he knew they had won.
“Only crazy people would accomplish something like that. A normal person wouldn’t try it,” Ekkachai humorously recalled his response to family and friends who congratulated them.
Their victory, however, was short-lived in 2012, when they were overtaken by two Thai men, Nonthawat Charoenkaesornsin and Thanakorn Sitthiamthong, who broke the record after kissing for 50 hours 25 minutes.
However, in 2013, Ekkachai and Laksana were determined to reclaim their title which he described as their “Roman Empire,” with the new prize of 100,000 Thai Baht (around £2,350) and two diamond rings.
Determined to “take back what belonged to us,” Ekkachai said they trained hard for the competition and outlasted their rivals.
“We tried to stand straight like statues. Instead of pinching, we were tapping each other on the head with one hand and the other hand, we were hugging each other to keep awake,” he recalled.
“We learned from previous times. We didn’t worry too much and stayed relaxed. Some other couples were dancing when they were tired.
“During the final hours, the second-place couple raised their hands and gave up. I was happy, but it was overshadowed by how tired I was. I just wanted to rest and drink,” he added.
According to Guinness World Record, they completed the kiss in 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds.
However, the GWR has deactivated the longest kiss category after their 2013 win, due to safety concerns and changes in their policies, leaving Ekkachai and Laksana as the final holders of the record.
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