After finishing fourth at the Olympic Games in London, Ruth Beitia decided to retire.
It was an absence that lasted a matter of months and now she is celebrating the 'gift' of being at the top of her sport again.
The Spanish high jumper is preparing for 2014 with the ambition of making her mark at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot in March and then the European Athletics Championships in Zurich in August.
She has good reason to be looking forward since she is the defending outdoor champion after her victory in Helsinki last year and it would be a great achievement for her to retain the crown.
Beitia, 34, came back from her short retirement this year to add the European Athletics indoor title to her list of honours when she triumphed in Göteborg in March.
She then finished third at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
She said: 'Last year was very special because it meant my last season as an athlete, but after the return to competition, 2013 has been a great gift.
'It was the best season of my sporting life.'
At first she had seen the London Olympics as a disappointment when she finished fourth with 2.00m.
It was her best performance at the Games but the end of her career came into view.
During the period she was away, she could indulge herself in other sports.
Speaking to the Spanish federation's website rfea.es, she revealed she skated, climbed and went mountain biking.
Beitia said: 'I was too lazy to go to the gym every day.'
But that feeling did not last long and she returned in style to win the European Athletics indoor gold with 1.99m.
That showed retirement had come too early and she was back on the podium again in Moscow in August, sharing bronze with Russia's defending champion and Olympic champion Anna Chicherova as both women cleared 1.97m and could not be separated on countback.
Beitia is looking forward to competing and setting new objectives.
'Every day is an extension for me, so (I take it) step by step,' added Beitia.
'Even at 34, I keep learning.'