One wanted a hug. Another thirsted for a beer. A third wept tears of joy.
A triumphant trio of Australian women reacted with a common theme after delivering an unheralded burst of brilliance to Australia’s sporting landscape.
Within a dozen hours; Australia found three fresh sporting heroines.
Around 11pm Australian time on Sunday night, Ashleigh Barty became women’s tennis world No.1 – and was planning a celebratory brew.
Three hours later in Brazil, Sally Fitzgibbons became the top-ranked women’s surfer in the world – and wanting a hug from her dad.
Within another five-and-a-half hours in the United States, Hannah Green claimed women’s golf’s LPGA Championship – and was crying tears of happiness.
They celebrated their individual success with a collective commonality: thanking, and thinking of, family and friends.
Barty won the Birmingham Classic to take tennis’ top-billing.
And despite playing the most singular of sport, Barty says her new-found status belongs to a team.
“It has just been the most amazing journey for myself and my team,” she said.
“We have got to this point by doing all the small things right.
“It has certainly just been the most amazing month of tennis for us.”
Barty, a 23-year-old, born in Ipswich, Queensland, is the first Australian woman to take the women’s tennis top ranking in nearly half a century.
Her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley is the only other Australian woman to hold the No.1 spot since the WTA rankings were introduced in 1973.
Barty was planning a beer or two to celebrate with her camp, while surfer Fitzgibbons had a similar big picture view of her personal triumph.
Like Barty, Fitzgibbons thought instantly of her wider tribe as she embraced her father on the shores at Saquarema in Ro de Janeiro State.
“A big hug from my dad … and I know my mum’s watching out there with all my family and friends,” she said.
“And just the team that had my back. It has all part of the process and they have all chipped in and it’s pretty cool.”
Later, 22-year-old Green won her breakthrough Major golf title in Chaska, Minnesota with support from her idol, mentor and compatriot Karrie Webb.
“It really makes me tear up,” Green said, before offering to help raise the profile of women’s golf in Australia.
“Girl’s golf in Australia isn’t as big as it is here but I think we are now starting to get everything in order to become better,” she said.
“If I can help in any way possible, I would love to.”