In a spectacular and emotionally charged season finale, Robert Irwin was crowned the champion of Dancing With The Stars season 34, clinching the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin secured his victory during Tuesday's grand finale after delivering three passionate performances, all while battling a significant rib injury.
A Night Of Flawless Performances
The ballroom stage was set for an intense competition as the five finalists—Alix Earle, 24, Robert Irwin, 21, Jordan Chiles, 24, Elaine Hendrix, 54, and Dylan Efron, 33—took their final turns on the dance floor. The evening was divided into three challenging rounds: the Judges' Choice Round, the Instant Dance Challenge, and the Freestyle Round, all scrutinised by judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
Social media sensation Alix Earle and her professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy set an incredibly high standard, achieving a perfect score of 90 for the night. Their performances, including a samba to 'Hip Hip Chin Chin' and a freestyle to a mash-up of Nelly Furtado's 'Maneater' and Tate McRae's 'Sports Car', earned rapturous praise from the judges, with Bruno Tonioli declaring her "incandescent".
Zac Efron's brother, Dylan Efron, also delivered show-stopping routines with partner Daniella Karagach. His paso doble, which featured a shirtless reveal that thrilled the audience, and a subsequent Foxtrot that left the judges speechless, earned him high scores throughout the night.
Triumph Over Adversity
The path to victory was not smooth for Robert Irwin. Just hours before the finale, his professional partner, Witney Carson, revealed in a TikTok video that Robert's ribs had "been killing him" all week. She described the situation as "stressful," noting they had to make last-minute changes to their freestyle routine to accommodate his injury.
Despite the physical setback, Robert powered through his performances. He danced a quickstep to Jet's 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl' for the Judges' Choice, earning a 29 out of 30. He followed this with a perfect-scoring cha cha and an emotionally charged freestyle routine dedicated to his late father, set to Sam Sparro's 'Black & Gold' and Avicii's 'The Nights'.
Judge Derek Hough offered poignant words after the freestyle, telling Robert, "I remember in this very room sitting right there at 11 years old, and now you had just done the most beautiful Freestyle. You are a dancer. You are a phenomenal human being." Bruno Tonioli added a touching sentiment, assuring Robert that his father could see him and would be proud of the "solid gold 24-karat performance."
An Emotional Celebration of Resilience
The finale was also a night of comebacks and personal triumphs. Elaine Hendrix, who had to stop dancing over 30 years ago due to a car accident, moved the audience with her journey to the finals. Her rumba to 'Take My Breath Away' earned a perfect score, and she shared an inspiring message, urging viewers to "say yes to yourself and do what you've always wanted to do."
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa delivered powerful performances, including a paso doble to Rihanna's 'Breakin' Dishes', finishing the night with a strong score of 89.
The episode also featured appearances from all eliminated contestants, including Hilaria Baldwin and Corey Feldman, as well as a special performance from reigning champion Joey Graziadei with his former partner, Jenna Johnson.
In the end, it was Robert Irwin's combination of technical skill, emotional depth, and sheer determination that won over the judges and the audience, securing him the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy and continuing his family's legacy on the show, following his sister Bindi Irwin's previous victory.
