Arianna Fontana became her country’s most decorated Olympian when she led Italy to silver behind South Korea in the women’s 3000m short track relay at the Olympic Winter Games on Wednesday.

It was the 14th Olympic medal of Fontana’s career, eclipsing the record of fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti, who won 13 medals between 1936 and 1960.

"It’s something incredible," she said. "I still haven’t found the right words to describe this moment and everything I’m feeling. I’m trying to take it all in, to stay present, to enjoy this medal with the girls and maybe tomorrow, when I wake up, it will all really sink in."

Canada took bronze. It was the first short track gold of the Games for South Korea, the most successful nation in the discipline at the Olympics.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was at the Milan Ice Skating Arena to witness Fontana make history.

"She told us she had watched the race and was cheering for us," said Elisa Confortola, one of the Italian team members. "She was thrilled and gave us so many compliments. We really appreciated it. She was genuinely very happy and we even felt a bit embarrassed, but it was truly a special moment."

“Meloni also took a photo with us,” she added.

The way was cleared for Italy to win a medal when a Dutch skater fell midway through the race, effectively turning it into a three-team contest.

“I’m sad for them. We tried to stay concentrated, calm and collected. We knew it was going to be chaotic. We took advantage of other skaters’ mistakes and found our way to the podium,” Fontana said.

The Italian skater, 35, has now won three medals at the Milan Cortina Games. She made her Olympic debut as a teenager when Italy hosted the 2006 Torino Games, winning the first medal of her career in the women’s relay.

She had the honor of carrying the Italian flag at the Opening Ceremony at San Siro this month, but her relationships with teammates and sports officials have been tense at times.

Fontana missed her first chance to break the record on Monday, finishing 4th in the women’s 1000m after contact with Chinese rival Gong Li in the final.

After that race, she said she had a “bitter taste in her mouth,” adding she would not allow the quest for a 14th medal to distract her.

Fontana comes from the small town of Berbenno, around two hours’ drive north of Milan, where local bars are papered with signed photos of her.

Married to her coach, Italian-American former skater Anthony Lobello, she speaks fluent English and has spent long periods training abroad.