Robert Irwin is officially following in some very sparkly family footsteps — and he’s doing it with a Mirrorball trophy in hand. The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist, who grew up in khakis and crocodile enclosures, just closed out Dancing With the Stars Season 34 as the champion alongside pro dancer Witney Carson, and the win marks a full-circle moment for the Irwin legacy.
After 11 weeks of high-pressure live shows, countless rehearsals, and a finale packed with three high-energy routines, Robert and Witney managed to snag a near-perfect score from the judges. But it was the audience votes that ultimately sealed the deal. In what insiders called a closely contested showdown, the duo pulled ahead and claimed the glittering trophy — a decade after Robert’s sister Bindi Irwin won Season 21.
For those who remember Bindi’s emotional season — which included tributes to her late father Steve Irwin — Robert’s victory carries an extra dose of sentimentality. And true to Irwin form, he handled the win with unfiltered gratitude and heartfelt sincerity.
“I’m just feeling such an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I mean, this has changed my life, and I’m so happy I took this experience now, because now, for the rest of my life, I take what I’ve learned here and I take this friendship that is so incredibly special, and I’ll have that forever. That is the greatest gift of all,” Robert told Entertainment Tonight immediately after the show.
He went on to reflect on the surreal, full-circle moment of winning the show exactly 10 years after his sister.
“I remember when I watched right here in this room, ten years ago to the day, watching my sister lift that trophy,” he said. “To have that experience to follow in her footsteps and to represent my family’s legacy is everything. And more than that, this is so deserved for Witney. I mean, she is the greatest and I have admired her on this process so much, and so I’m so proud.”
Witney, who has become a fan favorite across more than a decade of DWTS, had just as much praise for her dance partner. After taking time off from the show to focus on her family, her return with Robert seems to have reignited her passion for performing.
“I feel like this season Robert really changed me and kind of lit a fire back into me that was maybe dimmed for a minute,” she shared. “I feel like this is just such an experience with you, and I’m your friend and sister forever.”
Their partnership, which fans often called one of the most wholesome in the show’s history, was a consistent highlight of the season. Viewers loved watching the unlikely duo — a conservationist known for wrestling crocodiles and a ballroom pro known for fierce choreography — find rhythm, connection, and charm together.
Now, the two join the long list of DWTS champions, but their win feels especially warm and sentimental. It’s a family legacy continued, a new friendship cemented, and a reminder that even the wildest wildlife warrior can sparkle under the disco lights.
