Robert Irwin and Witney Carson's Winning Dance Journey
21-year-old conservationist Robert Irwin and his dance partner Witney Carson made history by winning Dancing with the Stars season 34, securing the Mirrorball trophy despite a painful rib injury.
A Triumph Over Adversity
Irwin and Carson faced challenges due to Irwin's injury, which made breathing difficult at times. Carson prioritized Irwin's health, adjusting their final freestyle dance to remove a tricky move that aggravated his ribs. Despite this, they delivered three stunning performances in the finale:
- A quickstep
- A cha cha
- A freestyle, which Irwin described as a "thank you" to everyone who supported them.
A Night of Firsts and Seconds
This victory marked Carson's second Mirrorball trophy, her first being in season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro, who now co-hosts the show. For Irwin, this win followed in the footsteps of his sister Bindi Irwin, who won the trophy 10 years ago.
The Journey of the Finalists
The season 34 finalists flew overnight from Los Angeles to New York to appear live on Good Morning America. Each finalist shared their unique experiences:
- Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy described their journey as humbling, with Earle crediting Chmerkovskiy for pushing her along.
- Dylan Efron, younger brother of actor Zac Efron, said it took him a while to get comfortable on the ballroom floor but enjoyed the experience.
- Jordan Chiles, a full-time student and college athlete, called the entire experience amazing.
- Elaine Hendrix, one of the older contestants, shared that it's never too late to chase your dreams, with her partner Alan Bersten cheering her on throughout the journey.
