Robert Irwin crowned Dancing With the Stars champion in historic nail-biter
An emotional Robert Irwin has been crowned the winner of Dancing With the Stars US, with the 21-year-old paying tribute to his sister Bindi. Watch the performance here.
Robert Irwin has been crowned the winner of the milestone 20th anniversary season of Dancing With the Stars US, storming to victory alongside professional partner Witney Carson in a dramatic and emotionally charged grand final that delivered some of the highest voter numbers in the show’s history.
The grand final episode of the season marked the culmination of 11 weeks of gruelling competition, with Irwin triumphing over fellow finalists influencer Alix Earle, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, reality TV star Dylan Efron and actor Elaine Hendrix.
Announcing the result, host Alfonso Ribeiro declared: “The winners and new champions of Dancing With the Stars are… Robert and Witney,” as the ballroom erupted and gold confetti rained down on the pair.
Co-host Julianne Hough revealed the final vote count was one of the biggest in the show’s history, and that the gap between first and second place was the narrowest ever seen on Dancing With the Stars.
The grand final unfolded across three intense rounds, beginning with a high-energy quickstep to Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl for the judges’ choice performance, where the panel selected the dance style for each couple. Dressed in striking sequined black ensembles, Irwin and Carson launched into a routine packed with floor work, dynamic kicks and a notoriously tricky guided fall, where Irwin carefully lowered Carson towards the floor in a dramatic moment that drew audible gasps from the crowd.
But behind the showmanship was visible pain.
“I’ve been dealing with rib pain, it’s been getting progressively worse,” Irwin admitted pre-performance.
“If I pull something in the quickstep, I can’t do the instant dance, I can’t do the freestyle. But if I push any harder, my body’s going to break.”
Judges still showered the routine with praise, with Derek Hough dubbing him the “quickstep king” and Bruno Tonioli likening his power to “a cheetah, gazelle and lion combined.”
Carrie Ann Inaba awarded him a nine — sparking boos from the audience — but defended her decision, telling the crowd: “This trophy is what we’re competing for tonight, and I don’t give it to anybody who doesn’t absolutely deserve it.”
Round two saw Irwin face the nerve-racking “Instant Dance” challenge, where couples are given just five minutes to prepare a routine. He pulled the cha-cha to DNCE’s Cake By The Ocean — a style he had openly hoped to avoid.
“The cha-cha just never made sense to me. The instant dance is terrifying,” he confessed.
The sultry routine leaned into spectacle and intensity, ending with a dramatic shirt rip as Irwin knelt over Carson. While some fans online questioned moments of timing, the judges were unanimous in their praise, awarding perfect scores.
Post-dance, Irwin revealed the toll on his injured ribs.
“I catch crocodiles and a crocodile has never managed to screw up my ribs like that, so dancing is hard,” he said.
The final freestyle round proved the most emotional, with Irwin dedicating the performance to his late father Steve Irwin. Set to Black & Gold by Sam Sparro and Avicii’s The Nights, the routine featured sweeping ensemble choreography, soaring lifts and high-risk stunts.
“This is our last dance. I want this freestyle to say thank you to America,” Irwin said beforehand.
“I wouldn’t be here without my dad and his legacy. I really wish he could see it, I really wish he could be here.”
As the performance ended, the ballroom rose to its feet in a standing ovation as cameras panned to Irwin’s family. Derek Hough recalled seeing a young Irwin in the audience years earlier when his sister Bindi claimed the Mirrorball Trophy alongside him in 2015, calling the routine “the most beautiful freestyle,” while Tonioli added: “He sees you. That was a 24-carat solid gold performance,” referencing his late father.
Earlier in the night, Irwin received prerecorded tribute messages from sister Bindi Irwin, mother Terri Irwin, brother-in-law Chandler Powell and family friend Russell Crowe.
“I brought the Mirrorball home 10 years ago — it’s your turn,” Bindi said.
“To see you be a warrior on the ballroom floor, no one would be more impressed than your dad,” Terri added.
“On my signal… unleash hell,” Crowe told him.
The judges’ perfect freestyle scores secured Irwin a total of 89 points for the night, with audience votes ultimately sealing his historic win.
Last year’s champions Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson presented the Mirrorball Trophy before Irwin and Carson were lifted into the air by fellow finalists and the dance crew, drenched in a cascade of gold confetti.
“My sister said it best, thank you for changing my life,” Irwin said after being presented the trophy.
Carson added: “I’m so grateful for Robert. I already feel like I won with him as my partner.”
More Coverage
