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Robert Irwin is following in his sister Bindi’s footsteps by claiming the Dancing with the Stars’ Mirrorball Trophy.
Robert, 21, danced his way to the title alongside professional partner Witney Carson on the show’s season 34 finale, which took place on Tuesday, Nov. 25. His victory came almost exactly 10 years after his elder sister, Bindi, 27, won the Mirrorball with her partner, Derek Hough. And Robert says that achieving the same accolade as his sister means “everything to him.”
“To follow in those footsteps and to do the same has meant everything to me,” he exclusively tells PEOPLE backstage after the show finale. “This has absolutely changed my life.”
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He tells PEOPLE that seeing his sister claim the title was particularly special as it was also an opportunity to spread the message about the Irwin family’s conservation work, Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors, their charity.
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“It’s about making the world a better place. And when I watched her lift that Mirrorball, I saw her lifting that message,” he says.
The conservationist also shares his gratitude for pro Carson, “I’m just so grateful that I was here on this journey with Witney. You’ve got me forever,” he says, adding, “Witney pours her heart and soul into this, and I’m just so happy that we are here.”
Carson, meanwhile, says that she “can’t think of anyone more deserving” than Robert of the trophy.
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“I feel like I’ve been so proud of you week to week, and just to see you shine has been one of my biggest highlights in my life, and I just am so, so proud of you,” she continues.
However, Robert’s road to the final wasn’t all smooth sailing and, in fact, the star suffered a rib injury just before the last show.
In a TikTok shared Monday, Nov. 24, pro Carson opened up about how the dance partners were doing, just one day out from the highly anticipated season 34 finale. Specifically, Carson, 32, said that Robert — who is the son of late conservationist Steve Irwin — had been having pain in his ribs.
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After “11 weeks of crazy, vigorous, hard dancing,” Carson said, “My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now. Just trying to keep it together for, like, two more days. Literally today and tomorrow, and then it’s over.”
“Robert’s ribs have been killing him,” she added in the social media clip.
Other contestants competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy included influencer Alix Earle with Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa, television personality Dylan Efron with Daniella Karagach, and actress Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten.
