'Dancing with the Stars' champions Robert Irwin, Witney Carson reflect on season 34
"Dancing with the Stars" season 34 champion Robert Irwin is opening up about taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy alongside pro partner Witney Carson, despite a rib injury heading into the finale.
"It's painful, but, you know, no pain, no gain, but it's all good," the 21-year-old conservationist said on "Good Morning America" after his win.
Irwin and Carson won the Mirrorball trophy Tuesday night, coming out on top among finalist pairs Alix Earle and pro Val Chmerkovskiy; Dylan Efron and pro Daniella Karagach; Jordan Chiles and pro Ezra Sosa; and Elaine Hendrix and pro Alan Bersten.
The duo confirmed they had to change some of the choreography for their final freestyle dance due to the injury, which Irwin said made it hard to breathe at times.
"That trick right there that you just saw, I get tossed by the guys, and Robert usually catches me, and there was one time that we did it, and it just like killed his ribs, so I took it out," Carson said. "His health is my No. 1 priority."
But the two pulled off their three finale dances -- a judge's choice quickstep, an instant cha cha dance and freestyle -- and Irwin described their freestyle performance as a "thank you" to everyone who helped them on their dancing journey.
"We just knew we had to make it work, because it was the way to just say we're so grateful for this experience," Irwin said.
"We were just having that much fun that I didn't even realize there was an issue till the end," he added. "It is literally the greatest thing I think I've ever got to be part of."
The season 34 win was Carson's second time earning the trophy as a pro dancer. She said it felt "a lot different" this time around.
"The first time I won, I was 19 years old, and now I'm 32 so I have kids now, and so, to celebrate with them and my husband was so special," Carson said. "And then the fact that [host] Alfonso [Ribeiro] gave me the Mirrorball [trophy], it's kind of like, really full circle for me, and just to have Robert as my partner. I mean, you guys know how special he is. He's exactly this way in real life, which is crazy, but it was a very memorable, special season."
Irwin followed in his sister Bindi Irwin's footsteps to the trophy, 10 years after her win during season 21 with then-pro Derek Hough.
"I remember watching my sister raise that Mirrorball trophy 10 years ago to the day ... and it just felt like, 'Wow, what a privilege that we are here,' and that pressure was there, but it was just the pressure to be the best version of ourselves," Irwin said. "We just wanted to say thank you because I had no idea what to expect coming over, but the way everybody in America was just so kind and so embracing, I mean, it felt like flying."
