Did I escape the friendzone?

I knew my girlfriend before we started dating for 2-3 years, our families used to go skiing in the winter together and she is also my neighbour. We talked and sometimes even maybe flirted a little, but she had a boyfriend the whole time. After she broke up with him, it was difficult to try something on her, because we have know each other only as friends, but I managed it in the end.

Question is, does this count as having escaped the friend zone? Do I get a medal of honour? :D