Robert Irwin has won Dancing with the Stars.
A favourite from the start of the competition, the young Aussie lit up the US show’s finale beating out his celebrity rivals gymnast Jordan Chiles and Zac Efron’s brother Dylan Efron to secure the coveted Mirrorball trophy.
Despite entering the competition with no prior experience, the 21-year-old quickly proved his dance skills, repeatedly receiving perfect scores over the weeks.
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“I wish he could see it, I really wish he could be here,” Robert said, paying tribute to his late father, Steve Irwin.
“My sister said it best, thank you for changing my life,” he added as he accepted the trophy.
A dream 10 years in the making
Robert has been waiting to be on Dancing with the Stars for years.
In a new TikTok video posted on Tuesday, Robert reflected on his experience so far and took fans on a nostalgic journey.
The clip opens with a throwback to season 21 of the show, when Robert’s sister, Bindi, first claimed the Mirrorball Trophy in 2015.
At the time, Robert appeared as a guest, dressed in a brown shirt and blazer, excitedly stepping in to help with hosting duties.
When asked if he would ever consider competing as a celebrity, his answer was immediate.
“Definitely, I would love to, that would be so much fun,” a young Robert says in the footage.
The clip then transitions to a montage of Robert’s standout moments from this season, interwoven with another flashback to 2015, following one of Bindi’s performances.
“I think she’s absolutely amazing, I’m so proud of her,” Robert says, hugging his big sister.
The Irwin family has been with Robert every step of the way and even relocated to the US to cheer him on live in the audience at every performance.
Some family members even joined him on the dance floor throughout the season.
During dedication week, when contestants could invite a loved one to join their performance, Robert chose his mother, Terri.
Later, for the birthday celebration routine that earned a perfect score, Bindi joined her brother on the dance floor.
Together with his partner Witney, Robert performed a moving foxtrot to Footprints in the Sand by Leona Lewis — a heartfelt tribute to his late father, Steve Irwin.
The performance left the judges captivated, particularly when Bindi joined in to help secure the season’s first perfect score of 40.
The emotional impact reached its peak when a surprise projection of the Crocodile Hunter appeared on the ballroom floor, bringing Robert to tears as Witney and Bindi embraced him.
Inspired by Bindi’s own DWTS victory in 2015, the routine resonated with judges and viewers alike, cementing Robert’s journey as one to remember.
For his first performance in the finale, Robert performed a quickstep to Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Australian band Jet.
Judge Derek Hough, who was Bindi Irwin’s dance partner back in 2015, picked the dance style for the couple and assisted them in rehearsals.
The couple received a score of 29/30 points.
Ahead of his performance, Robert was seen receiving medical attention during rehearsals, noting the group of muscles located between his ribs were “progressively getting worse”.
Earlier in the week, Witney revealed after 11 weeks of intense dance practice, she and Robert were “falling apart”.
Every Robert Irwin performance on Dancing With The Stars
Week 1: Premiere
Dance style: Jive
Song: Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Score: 15/20
Week 2: ‘One-Hit Wonders’ Night
Dance style: Tango
Song: Move Your Feet by Junior Senior
Score: 22/30
Week 3: TikTok Night
Dance style: Salsa
Song: MILLION DOLLAR BABY by Tommy Richman
Score: 22/30
Week 4: Disney Night
Dance style: Cha Cha
Song: Try Everything by Shakira
Score: 22/30
Week 5: Dedication Night
Dance style: Contemporary
Song: You’ll be In My Heart by Phil Collins
Score: 35/40
Week 6: Wicked Night
Dance style: Jazz
Song: Dancing Through Life from Wicked
Score: 36/40
Week 7: Halloween Night
Dance style: Tangle
Song: Sweet Dreams are Made of This by The Hampton String Quartet
Score: 38/40
Week 8: Rock Hall Of Fame Night
Dance style: Paso Doble
Song: Icky Thump by The White Stripes
Score: 38/40
Week 9: DWTS 20th Birthday Party
Dance style: Foxtrot
Song: Footprints In The Sand by Leona Lewis
Score: 40/40
Dance style: Relay Jive
Song: Dance with Me Tonight by Olly Murs
Score: 2/2 bonus points
Week 10: Prince Night (semi-final)
Dance style: Jive
Song: Baby I’m a Star by Prince & The Revolution
Score: 30/30
Dance style: Viennese Waltz
Song: WOW by Prince &3rdEyeGirl
Score: 29/30
Week 10: Finale
Dance style: Quickstep
Song: Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Score: 29/30
Dance style: Cha Cha
Song: Cake By The Ocean
Score: 30/30
Dance style: Freestyle
Song: Black & Gold
Score: 30/30
