The Thai couple who set a record for the world’s longest kiss in 2011 celebrated their 10th anniversary by setting a new record at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Valentine’s Day kissing marathon.
Ekachai and Laksana Tiranarat smooched continuously for 58 hours, 35 minutes and 38 seconds to blow away the record of 50:25:01 set by Nonthawat Charoenkasetsin and Thanakorn Sitthiemthong a year ago. The gay couple finished second this year with a time of 58.33.30.
“My husband and I wanted to test ourselves again and kiss for at least 46 hours, our previous record,” Laksana said. “Our inspiration to keep kissing was our children and us wanting to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary and my husband’s birthday, which both fall on Valentine’s Day.”
Royal Garden Plaza & Entertainment Vice President Somporn Naksuetrong (right) presents the 100,000 baht winners cheque to Ekachai and Laksana Tiranarat, newly crowned holders of the World’s longest continuous kiss.
The couple will now be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s longest continuous kiss. They also won a diamond ring, cash and other prizes worth 200,000 baht.
This year’s contest began at noon Feb. 12 with nine couples standing and kissing. In addition to two former winners, the group also included the oldest-ever competitors, 74-year-old Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Panjet Yomjinda and his 72-year-old wife Suwanna. Despite the backing of the crowd, the elderly couple lasted only six hours.
The oldest-ever competitors, 74-year-old Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Panjet Yomjinda and his 72-year-old wife Suwanna lasted a full 6 hours.
“My husband and I wanted to try to set a record since we are quite old,” Suwanna said. “We didn’t really expect to win, but we wanted to test ourselves in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Competition rules are brutal enough to take the romance out of any kiss. Contestants – who must be married or have lived together for at least a year – must touch lips for the entire duration of the marathon, including while in the restroom or while drinking water. Kissers must remain standing and not sleep.
Laksana Tiranarat (left) writes a message to her husband Ekachai to encourage him to continue standing and kissing beyond 50 hours.
At least half the contestants showed hearty endurance against thirst, hunger and fatigue with four couples beating the previous 50-hour record. Krittirat Chaikhum and Kanokwan Aajkhidkarn dropped out in fourth place after Kanokwan couldn’t remain awake after 53 hours and 56 minutes. Surasak Plangklang and Sanom Raksa gave up when Surasak’s feet swelled so badly he could no longer stand.
Sanom Raksa and Surasak Plangklang keep kissing tightly while walking to the toilet.
Sanom Raksa embraces lover Surasak Plangklang, consoling him after his foot had swollen severely, forcing him to retire from the competition.
Last year’s winners Nonthawat Charoenkasetsin and Thanakorn Sitthiemthong are helped off the competition stage after conceding their title to Ekachai and Laksana Tiranarat.
Krittirat Chaikhum applies muscle balm to Kanokwan Aajkhidkarn’s legs after 53 hours 56 minutes and 38 seconds of continuous kissing, beating the previous record but falling nearly 5 hours short of winning this year.
