If you’re anything like me, then your Christmas Day as a child involved getting the latest copy of the Guinness World Records book.
Some of the records people break seem so completely bizarre that nobody has probably attempted it before.
However, some records aren’t welcome in the annuals anymore due to health risks.
Some Guinness World Records are bizarre. Credit: Maja Hitij/Getty
I’m not talking about highest skydive, longest time holding your breath, or most time spent set on fire… I’m talking about the longest kiss.
In 2013, Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, a couple from Thailand, achieved the remarkable feat of holding the record for the longest kiss, locking lips for an incredible 58 hours and 35 minutes.
Their achievement came during a competition organized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Pattaya, Thailand.
The challenge came with strict guidelines. According to Guinness World Records:
- The kiss had to be continuous, with lips touching at all times.
- Couples could consume liquids through a straw, but lips could not part.
- Participants had to remain standing, unaided, and could not take rest breaks.
- Contestants could visit the restroom, but they had to maintain the kiss under the watchful eye of a referee.
- Wearing adult diapers or incontinence pads was prohibited.
Such rigorous requirements made the contest as grueling as it was romantic.
The 2013 event began on February 12 with nine couples, including one duo in their 70s.
However, the elderly pair dropped out after an hour and 38 minutes when the husband struggled to remain standing.
Ekkachai and Laksana persevered, earning the grand prize of 100,000 Thai Baht (approximately $2,967) and two diamond rings valued at the same amount.
Their dedication set a record that appeared unbeatable.
Despite the romance and spectacle, Guinness retired the category due to health risks associated with extreme sleep deprivation.
Contestants in past events had suffered dangerous side effects, including hallucinations, muscle cramps, and even the need for medical intervention.
In 1999, record-holders Karmit Tzubera and Dror Orpaz nearly fainted after their 30-hour, 45-minute kiss.
They were rushed to the hospital, suffering from exhaustion. Similarly, in 2004, another contestant experienced severe muscle cramps and required oxygen after 31 hours and 18 minutes of kissing.
While the World’s Longest Kiss is no longer recognized, romantics still have the option to attempt the longest kissing marathon.
This record allows for rest breaks, making it a safer way to pursue recognition for public displays of affection.
I’ll be honest, spending 58 hours locked in a kiss doesn’t seem like a lot of fun anyway.
