His disqualification for littering was later overturned, an extremely rare event at the elite level of the multisport series.
Currie was humming in his bid to win the world title before an unexpected penalty derailed everything.
"The way the day started out, it looked like things were going to unfold well for me," he said.
"My swim was strong, positioning me exactly where I wanted to be, and I was really happy with how my bike performance was going."
However, adversity struck when Currie incurred a controversial penalty during the race.
It was a "challenging moment" that would have massive ramifications for his performance.
Currie thought he had copped a penalty for drafting on the bike but, after contesting the decision with a referee, discovered it was for littering.
"I had tossed my bottle just outside the designated drop zone to avoid hitting a volunteer who was cleaning up bottles.
"A five-minute penalty at the world championships had a profound impact on my race morale and trajectory."
Currie arrived at the bike-run transition point anticipating he would serve his penalty immediately.
However, his support staff and ironman officials urged him to continue running — which would mean instant disqualification — and look at appealing the decision later.
Sounds simple, but Currie pointed out it played havoc with his mental game.
"I was effectively running for disqualification — a result I had never desired.
"At the finish line, we were encouraged to pursue a dispute, which we did."
Sally Currie, the star multisporter’s wife and manager, felt her husband was brimming with confidence before the penalty and could have been a contender for the world title.
She said it was vital to do everything possible to contest the penalty decision.
"We explored the option of foregoing the penalty, continuing to run, and lodging an appeal later," Sally said.
"Unfortunately, we couldn’t relay this information to Braden until it was too late. He was essentially at the bike-run transition, and by that point, he had mentally surrendered, convinced that his shot at victory had slipped away.
"The emotional toll of such an unjust incident on course can be overwhelming. Although he considered giving up entirely, he summoned every ounce of determination within him to complete the race."
After the race, Currie’s disqualification was reversed and his finishing time (8hr 38min 50sec) and placing (16th) were reinstated.
"It wasn’t the race outcome I had hoped for, but I can accept the situation and be proud of our journey in life," Currie said.
"We’re in a good place, looking forward to a break with our kids and planning for the future."
The Curries gave some feedback to the ironman organisation.
It included thoughts on the qualifications of on-course referees and the placement of aid stations, particularly if they were at the ends of downhill sections where athletes were at high speeds.
