&34;Mate, I catch crocs. I'm used to it,&34; said the wildlife conservationist. Robert Irwin gives update on rib injury after winning DWTS &34;Mate, I catch crocs. I'm used to it,&34; said the wildlife conservationist. By Emlyn Travis :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/EmlynTravisauthorphotocba6765b433b4f93b9398d18053153b1.jpg) Emlyn Travis is a news writer at . She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME. EW's editorial guidelines November 26, 2025 11:38 a.m.

"Mate, I catch crocs. I'm used to it," said the wildlife conservationist.

Robert Irwin gives update on rib injury after winning DWTS

"Mate, I catch crocs. I'm used to it," said the wildlife conservationist.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

EW's editorial guidelines

November 26, 2025 11:38 a.m. ET

'DWTS' winners Witney Carson and Robert Irwin on 'Good Morning America'. Credit:

*Dancing With the Stars *winner Robert Irwin is giving an update on his health after sustaining a rib injury just before the competition's finale. **

The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist admitted that the wound was "painful" but that it was important for him and his pro partner, Witney Carson, to finish strong.**

"We're getting there," he said while visiting* Good Morning America* on Wednesday. "It's painful, but, you know, no pain no gain."

Irwin continued, "We wanted to push through. Witney was amazing at changing up some of the moves that we had to do in there. We had to change on the fly, but our last dance — that freestyle — was a way to say thank you to everybody who'd been on that journey."

Witney Carson and Robert Irwin with their Mirrorball Trophy on 'Dancing With the Stars'.

Disney/Eric McCandless

Irwin said the duo wanted to power through "because it was the way to just say we're so grateful for this experience," adding, "And honestly, I'll heal up! Mate, I catch crocs. I'm used to it. It's all good!"**

Before the finale, Carson explained in a TikTok that both her and Irwin's bodies were "kind of falling apart," and so she had to make last-minute changes to their choreography. She elaborated on the tweaks during their *GMA* visit.

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"I get tossed by the guys and Robert usually catches me," she said, "and there was one time that we did it and it just killed his ribs, so I took it out. Obviously, his health is my number-one priority."**

"She's my big sister, you know?" Irwin said.

"I have a sense of protectiveness forever now!" added Carson.**

Still, the *GMA* hosts acknowledged that it must be hard for Irwin to breathe given his current injury.

"Breathe air? Yeah," the* Crikey! It's the Irwins *star agreed. "But it's all good. I'll be right. It'll be right."

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Irwin also noted that he was often having so much fun that he couldn't really feel the injury. **

"I didn't even realize there was an issue until the end because the adrenaline, the passion, and the fun of it all — it overrides anything, honestly," he said. "It is literally the greatest thing I think I've ever gotten to be part of, and I'm just so, so happy."

Robert is the second Irwin to take home the Mirrorball Trophy, following in the footsteps of his sister, Bindi, who won season 21 of *DWTS* in 2015. His mom, Terri Irwin, along with Bindi and her husband, Chandler Powell, were in attendance on the evening cheering him on. **

While visiting *GMA*, Irwin explained that he'd hoped to bring a little bit of his own "khaki, wildlife warrior" style to the ballroom. And it turns out he may have found a new recruit along the way. **

"I tell you what: Witney's gonna be catching crocs with me in a minute," he teased. "Honestly, she's onboard, mate!"**

Watch Irwin discuss his injury in the clip above.

- Dancing with the Stars Fandom

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Dancing"

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Source: Dancing

Published: December 01, 2025 at 09:24AM on Source: SHOWBIZ MAG

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