Robert Irwin won Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars on November 25, 2025, taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with professional partner Witney Carson. The victory came exactly ten years after his sister Bindi Irwin won the same competition in 2015. Robert Irwin dancing with the Stars captivated audiences for 11 weeks, with the 21-year-old wildlife conservationist delivering consistently strong performances that ultimately secured the championship.
The Road to the Mirrorball Trophy
Robert Irwin entered the Dancing with the Stars ballroom as a beloved figure with a massive international fan base. As the son of the late Steve Irwin, the legendary “Crocodile Hunter,” Robert carried a legacy that extended far beyond the dance floor. Paired with Witney Carson, a seasoned professional dancer who had previously won the competition, the duo quickly established themselves as frontrunners. Throughout the season, which aired on ABC and streamed simultaneously on Disney+, the pair tackled a technically demanding lineup of dances including a tango, a salsa, and a Wicked-inspired jazz routine .
The competition featured a strong field of finalists including influencer Alix Earle, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, actor Elaine Hendrix, and Dylan Efron, brother of Zac Efron. The finale, which stretched over three hours, required the remaining five couples to perform three separate dances, including the judges’ choice round, an instant dance challenge, and a freestyle . This format tested the versatility and endurance of every competitor.
The Debut That Made History
From the very first episode, Robert made an unforgettable impression. His premiere performance was quintessentially Australian, beginning with him crouching on the hood of a four-wheel-drive vehicle dressed in his signature khaki. The routine launched into a high-energy jive to Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild,” complete with a dramatic moment where he ripped off his khaki shirt mid-performance .
Judge Derek Hough, who himself had partnered with Bindi Irwin during her winning season in 2015, was visibly impressed. Hough declared Robert’s debut “probably the best first dance I’ve ever seen on this show” . The performance earned Robert and Carson 15 out of 20 points, tying for the highest score of the premiere night. The reaction confirmed what many had suspected, Robert’s natural charisma, agility, and showmanship translated perfectly to the ballroom.
Honoring the Irwin Legacy
Throughout the competition, Robert paid heartfelt tribute to his family. For “Dedication Night,” he performed an emotional contemporary routine to Phil Collins’s “You’ll Be In My Heart” in honor of his mother Terri Irwin. The performance featured a strategic moment where Witney Carson slipped away and was seamlessly replaced by Terri, creating a powerful visual of mother and son dancing together. Robert later spoke about how his mother’s strength was the reason he could pursue the competition, acknowledging the challenges she faced raising him and Bindi after Steve Irwin’s death in 2006 .
Another particularly poignant moment came during “Most Memorable Year Night” when Robert performed a foxtrot to Leona Lewis’s “Footprints in the Sand.” This was the same song Bindi had used for her tribute to their father during her winning season. Bindi herself surprised Robert by joining him on stage before a montage of Steve Irwin with a baby Robert was projected onto the dance floor, prompting Robert to break down in tears . The emotional performance earned him a perfect score of 40, his highest score up to that point.
Robert also carried tangible reminders of his father throughout the competition. He rehearsed with two good luck charms, a ring made from keys to his childhood home and one of his father’s shirts, which he wore for every rehearsal. He reflected on the significance of the shirt, noting that each tear, hole, and missing button told another story about his father’s adventurous life .Robert Irwin: Quick Bio
Notes on fields with limited verification:
Spouse/Partner: Robert stated in a November 2025 interview with The New York Times that he finds dating “challenging to navigate” in the public eye and has not confirmed any relationship .
Education: No reliable public source documents Robert Irwin’s formal education history.
Overcoming Adversity
Despite his dominant performances, Robert faced a significant obstacle heading into the finale. He was struggling with painful rib injuries that required Carson to adapt their choreography . Carson shared on social media that after 11 weeks of intense dancing, both she and Robert were “kind of falling apart right now,” with Robert’s ribs causing him particular difficulty . Despite the pain, Robert insisted on rehearsing right up to showtime. His determination to perform through injury demonstrated the same resilience that defined his father’s approach to wildlife conservation.
The Final Showdown
The finale showcased Robert’s versatility and growth as a dancer. He and Carson performed a Quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Australian rock band Jet for the Judges’ Choice round, followed by a Freestyle blending “Black & Gold” by Sam Sparro with “The Nights” by Avicii. They closed with an Instant Dance Cha Cha to “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE, a round where couples learned their style and song only minutes before performing .
Robert received 29 points out of a possible 30 for his first dance before netting perfect scores for his final two routines. By the end of the evening, he was tied for second on the leaderboard with Jordan Chiles at 89 out of 90, trailing Alix Earle’s perfect score of 90. However, when audience votes were tallied, Robert and Alix emerged as the top two contestants, with Robert ultimately claiming victory .
The final vote was historically close, with more votes cast for the top two than any other pair in the show’s history. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed the unprecedented level of audience engagement, reflecting Robert’s immense popularity with viewers .
A Family Tradition
Robert’s victory cemented the Irwin family’s unique place in Dancing with the Stars history. Ten years earlier, in 2015, a 17-year-old Bindi Irwin won Season 21 with Derek Hough, setting records with eight perfect scores throughout her run . Robert openly acknowledged following in his sister’s footsteps, telling People magazine backstage that watching Bindi lift the Mirrorball had shown him how she used her platform to amplify the Irwin family’s conservation work and their charity, Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors .
Robert expressed that doing the same had meant everything to him, calling the experience life-changing. “My sister said it best: Thank you for changing my life,” he said tearfully upon winning . Carson, who earned her second Mirrorball Trophy with the victory, praised her partner’s character and work ethic, expressing immense gratitude for their friendship .
A Friendship Beyond the Competition
The bond between Robert and Witney Carson extended far beyond their time on the dance floor. Carson later described Robert as “a beautiful person to work with” and said he would be in her life forever. Her children became obsessed with Robert, with her son Jet even pretending to be him during playtime .
The families remained close after the competition, with Carson and her family traveling to Australia for a reunion. Their friendship took on an unexpected dimension when Robert’s relationship status became a topic of public discussion after he revealed he was single during the competition. Carson and Bindi initially helped sort through the flood of messages from interested women, with Carson joking about the “applications” coming through her social media accounts. However, Carson eventually stepped away from the matchmaking role, explaining it became too overwhelming and stressful, especially with the competition’s demands. “We’re trying to win here. We’re not trying to date,” she recalled telling herself .
The Global Impact
Dancing with the Stars Season 34 averaged about six million same-day viewers according to Nielsen data, with significant gains among younger audiences. Robert’s weekly performances racked up millions of views on YouTube, dwarfing those of his competitors and demonstrating his unique cross-generational appeal .
The win marked a significant milestone in Robert’s meteoric rise. Already a respected wildlife photographer and an Earthshot ambassador, the competition introduced him to audiences far beyond traditional nature programming. Australian media celebrated his victory as a national achievement, with Robert proudly returning to Australia Zoo to display his Mirrorball Trophy and playfully noting it was taller than his sister’s.
Continuing the Legacy
Following his victory, Robert and Witney Carson reunited for Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, where they performed together and co-hosted the finale. The experience allowed them to continue their creative partnership without the pressures of weekly competition .
Robert’s Dancing with the Stars journey exemplified how the Irwin family continues to captivate audiences across generations. He successfully carried his father’s spirit into a completely different arena, demonstrating that the Irwin charisma and determination translate far beyond the Australian bush. The show’s emotional tributes to his father and mother, along with the historic symmetry of his victory with Bindi’s a decade earlier, created one of the most memorable seasons in the competition’s 34-season history.Frequently Asked Questions About Robert Irwin on Dancing with the Stars
Did Robert Irwin win Dancing with the Stars?
Yes, Robert Irwin won Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars on November 25, 2025. He and his professional partner Witney Carson took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy after competing for 11 weeks. His victory came exactly ten years after his sister Bindi Irwin won the same competition in 2015.
Who was Robert Irwin’s dance partner on Dancing with the Stars?
Robert Irwin was partnered with Witney Carson, a professional dancer who had previously won the competition. Carson earned her second Mirrorball Trophy with Robert’s victory. The pair developed a close friendship during and after the show, with Carson describing Robert as “a beautiful person to work with.”
How did Robert Irwin perform despite his rib injury during the season?
Robert Irwin pushed through painful rib injuries during the finale week, requiring his partner Witney Carson to adapt their choreography. Despite the pain, he insisted on rehearsing right up to showtime. His determination paid off, as he received perfect scores for his final two routines and ultimately won the competition.
How does Robert Irwin’s win compare to his sister Bindi’s victory?
Robert won exactly ten years after Bindi Irwin won Season 21 in 2015 with Derek Hough. Both siblings won the Mirrorball Trophy, making the Irwin family the only siblings to both claim victory on the U.S. version of the show. Robert even used the same song Bindi had used for her tribute to their father during his “Most Memorable Year Night” performance.
What did Robert Irwin do after winning Dancing with the Stars?
After his victory, Robert returned to Australia and proudly displayed his Mirrorball Trophy at Australia Zoo. He playfully noted that his trophy was taller than his sister Bindi’s. He also reunited with Witney Carson for Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, where they performed together and co-hosted the finale. He later made a guest appearance at a music festival in Perth, where he did “the worm” on stage.
