The Italian endurance runner had not only produced the performance of her life - she had done so having had to have her spleen removed because of a blood disease she suffers from.
As she said in the moments after finishing second to Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat: “I cannot believe it, I am so happy I am in the medals.”
Now six months on, Straneo finds herself in the position of taking top billing when she runs.
Her story is incredible and it is why on Sunday at the Giulieta and Romeo Half-Marathon in Verona, the Italians will take her to their heart in a race through this beautiful, historic city.
The race is one of three half-marathons that Straneo is planning to run in the next few weeks. After this race, she will compete in Lisbon on March 16 and then at the World Championships in Copenhagen 13 days later.
Long-term, the marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich in August is likely to become her big target for the summer and she will be among the favourites for a medal there.
Straneo, who has a personal best of 67:46 for the half-marathon from 2012, has started this year well, sitting second in the European Athletics rankings after she won in Santa Margherita Ligure earlier month in 72:14.
Portugal’s Jessica Augusto tops the list with 71:57 and will be a threat in both Lisbon and Copenhagen.
Last year Straneo won the half-marathon gold at the Mediterranean Games in Mersin before her superb performance in Moscow which showed how it is possible to return after adversity.
As she stars in the women’s race in Verona on Sunday, another Italian favourite Daniele Meucci will be in contention to win the men’s event.
It is a big year, too, for Meucci who has made the podium at the last year two European Athletics Championships, winning 10,000m silver in Helsinki in 2012 having taken bronze at the distance in Barcelona in 2010.
Will Zurich see him complete the set and win gold?
It will be just one of the many fascinating stories that will be told at the Championships which start in 177 days time.