Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, the Thai couple who achieved the world record for the longest kiss—lasting 58 hours and 35 minutes—in February 2013, have revealed that they are no longer together. Speaking on the BBC Sounds podcast Witness History, Ekkachai discussed the end of their marriage while expressing pride in their extraordinary accomplishment.
“I am very proud. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Ekkachai shared with host Megan Jones. “We spent a long time together, and I’m trying to remember the good memories and that we did this together.”
The couple initially broke the record in 2011, kissing for 46 hours and 24 minutes at a time when competitors were vying to surpass a 32-hour, seven-minute record. Ekkachai recounted that they hadn’t originally signed up for the 2011 competition, which was scheduled just before Valentine’s Day, as Laksana had recently recovered from a serious illness. However, they were convinced to participate by the lure of a 50,000 Thai Baht (approximately £1,200) prize 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 strict rules governing the world record attempt, which stipulated 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.” While couples were allowed to use the toilet, they were “required to remain kissing while doing so.” He noted that many contestants couldn’t endure the challenge and collapsed, and after 20 hours, he was exhausted and barely able to stand. However, Laksana encouraged him, saying, “we need to keep fighting,” prompting him to continue.
In the final stages of the competition, when only two couples remained, Ekkachai noticed their rival had fallen asleep. “When their lips parted, I knew we had won,” he recalled. “Only crazy people would accomplish something like that. A normal person wouldn’t try it,” he humorously responded to family and friends who congratulated them.
According to Guinness World Records, they completed the kiss in 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds.
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