Devin Jacobs
Imagine a 21-year-old wildlife conservationist stepping into his late father’s boots by day and waltzing across a ballroom floor by night. That’s exactly what Robert Irwin did when he claimed the Season 34 Mirrorball Trophy on “Dancing with the Stars”, partnered with pro dancer Witney Carson. The victory, announced during Tuesday night’s three-hour finale, marked a full-circle moment that had viewers around the world reaching for tissues.
Robert’s win wasn’t just another notch on the show’s belt—it shattered records. Both he and runner-up Alix Earle individually received more viewer votes than anyone in the show’s history, with the gap between them being one of the tightest ever seen in a finale. Ten years after his sister Bindi Irwin lifted the same trophy with partner Derek Hough in 2015, Robert followed in her dancing footsteps.
The symmetry wasn’t lost on anyone, especially Bindi herself, who threw her hands over her face in joy when the results were announced, while their mother, Terri, jumped up in celebration.
A Finale For The History Books
The Season 34 finale threw everything at the five remaining couples. Robert and Witney faced off against Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, and actress Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten. For the first time in the show’s history, finalists had to conquer three live dance rounds in a single night—a judges’ choice dance, an instant dance challenge where they learned the style and song just moments before hitting the stage, and a freestyle performance.
Here’s where it got interesting. Alix and Val earned perfect scores across all three dances, racking up a flawless 90 points and securing the maximum five points from the judges. Robert and Witney scored slightly lower, earning four points from the panel. But when combined with viewer votes, Robert’s overwhelming public support pushed him over the finish line. The scoring system meant that if Alix had topped both categories, she would have won, but America’s votes told a different story.
More Than Just Dancing
What made Robert’s journey resonate wasn’t just his technical improvement or emotional performances. Throughout the season, he consistently tied his dancing back to his broader mission as a Wildlife Warrior, carrying on the conservation work his father Steve Irwin started. He never treated the ballroom as an escape from his purpose but as an extension of it. His posts reflected this unwavering commitment, noting that he remained proud of his role in wildlife conservation even while perfecting his quickstep.
For Witney Carson, this victory marked her second Mirrorball Trophy, having previously won Season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro. She described the experience as life-changing and spoke of gaining a friend for life in Robert. Both winners are already looking ahead—Robert to filming commitments, including voice work for “Zootopia 2”, and both to appearances on the 2026 “Dancing with the Stars” tour, which kicks off in January and runs through May with expanded dates and special guest performances.