Crikey! Robert Irwin Reveals The Emotional Legacy Driving His Shocking Dancing with the Stars Success

Robert Irwin has always lived in the spotlight, first as the son of the legendary “Crocodile Hunter,” Steve Irwin, and later as a passionate wildlife conservationist continuing his family’s mission at the Australia Zoo. However, no one could have predicted the sheer magnitude of his current breakout moment: becoming the undeniable star of the latest season of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS).

With breathtaking routines that have consistently earned high scores—including their first perfect ‘10’ recently—Robert, alongside his professional partner, Whitney Carson, is rewriting his own narrative. He is no longer just “Steve Irwin’s son” or “Bindi Irwin’s brother.” He is Robert, the dancer, the performer, and the unexpected frontrunner, leveraging this massive new platform for a purpose far greater than just winning a glittering Mirrorball trophy.

In an exclusive look behind the scenes, Robert shared the deeply personal philosophy and emotional compass that guides his every move on the dance floor—a philosophy inherited directly from his late father, a man who, ironically, was more comfortable wrestling crocodiles than executing a proper chassé.

The Unexpected Journey of a Wildlife Warrior

The world knows Robert Irwin in khaki, surrounded by crocodiles, snakes, and koalas. The image of him in a tuxedo, gliding across a ballroom floor, is a stark, captivating contrast. Robert admits that signing up for DWTS was a leap of faith into the completely unknown.

“I sort of jump into this whole experience from the start with a sense of passion, but now as I’ve really gone week by week, I’ve grown to really have a huge appreciation and now an understanding of dance and what it takes to become a dancer,” he explained.

His journey began with a simple yet profound mantra: “Trust the process.” But for Robert, that process is encapsulated entirely by his partner, Whitney Carson, a DWTS veteran known for her intricate choreography. “The mantra is trust Whitney because honestly, like the process, you are the process. I have no clue what I’m doing,” he joked, highlighting the intense trust required to excel in a world so foreign to his own.

Whitney is quick to acknowledge his remarkable work ethic. She points out that he is competing against “actual dancers who have dance experience” and yet he is “right there at the top with them.” His dedication is evident in how they approach each new routine, such as the upcoming challenge: the Paso Doble for “Rock and Roll Week.”

The Paso Doble, a Spanish dance symbolizing a matador and the bull, is fiercely dominant and requires intense characterization and shaping. “This is going to be our biggest challenge yet,” Robert confessed. But rather than being intimidated, he sees it as an opportunity. “I want to try and prove that I’m not just here to give it a go, but that I can actually you know, be a dancer.”

This drive to prove his capabilities, coupled with his willingness to embrace vulnerability, is what has resonated so deeply with the audience, making him a breakout star week after week.

The Legacy of 100% Passion: Channeling Steve Irwin

The emotional core of Robert’s presence on DWTS is inextricably linked to the enduring legacy of his father. When asked what advice Steve Irwin would have given him at the start of this challenging journey, Robert’s response revealed the deep motivation behind his every performance.

“He was the type of person who was always just, you know, if you’re facing something that is new, it’s challenging, it’s scary, it’s an adrenaline rush—that’s how you know you’re on the right track,” Robert shared, visibly inspired by the memory.

This is the very essence of the Crocodile Hunter’s spirit: tackling the uncertain with a fierce sense of confidence and an unyielding commitment to giving life “100%.” For Robert, stepping onto the dance floor is as much an act of conservation and legacy-building as saving a trapped animal.

He articulated the defining principle he carries from his father: “I don’t care if people remember me. I just care that people remember what I stood for.”

In the ballroom, this philosophy manifests as Robert’s commitment to infusing every dance with meaningful storytelling. “Our team that we have is more about just dance,” he said. “We’re trying to tell stories through the dances that we create. Stories of fun and joy, of grief, of loss, of power and strength.”

By performing dances dedicated to his family, or simply channeling pure, unadulterated energy, Robert is embodying his father’s relentless positivity and zest for life. The audience isn’t just watching a celebrity dance; they are watching a young man honor a world-famous message on a grand, unexpected stage.

“I hope in anything and everything that I do that I would be able to make him proud,” Robert stated sincerely. He added humorously, “He wasn’t much of a dancer, I don’t think I would have gotten him out on the floor!”

A Full Circle Moment and a New Family

This season of DWTS is also a poignant “full circle moment” for Robert. He was a young boy, known for his signature bowl cut, when his sister, Bindi Irwin, competed and won the Mirrorball ten years ago.

“Coming back honestly just felt like a like a big hug from everyone,” he recalled. “The Dancing with the Stars community really feels like a family.”

It is a family that has now expanded to include Whitney and her family. Robert speaks of his partner with genuine affection, calling the experience of dancing with her “incredible.” He is gaining “a lifelong friend and a new older sibling who keeps me in line.”

This bond is crucial, as the nature of the competition can be intense. When asked who his biggest competition is, Robert gave a surprisingly honest, non-competitive answer: “Our biggest competition is ourselves, is what I always say. It’s such a cliché, but honestly for me at least, I feel like everybody in here is just, they’re all my friends.” For him, the true victory is personal growth and sharing joy. “If we can just bring some joy into the ballroom every week, our job is done.”

The fact that America votes to invite them back each week is not just a personal validation, but a validation of the greater message they are promoting. It means that the message of “wildlife conservation and of passion and positivity can reach a whole new audience.”

The Unexpected Road to Hollywood

Perhaps the most shocking revelation of Robert’s DWTS journey is the unexpected door it has opened to a potential future outside of the Australia Zoo. The emotional intensity required to take on characters in dance—to embody the fierce spirit of a Matador, the heartbreak of a Rumba, or the intensity of an Argentine Tango—has awakened a passion for acting he didn’t know he possessed.

“It’s also been the first time I’ve ever kind of gotten to act,” he admitted. “You are playing often in these dances like you’re playing a character. It’s you, but you’re projecting like intense and passionate sides of yourself that, well for me, I didn’t even know they existed.”

This self-discovery has fueled a new ambition. Robert now says he wants to “act, I want to dance, I want to do everything I possibly can,” though he maintains his singular focus: “all in the name of hopefully continuing a legacy and a message that my dad and that my family started.”

His partner, Whitney, enthusiastically agreed, suggesting he has the star quality for Broadway, movies, or even to play a role akin to “Chris Hemsworth’s little brother.”

For now, the focus is the Mirrorball, a trophy that would give the Irwin family a pair of them. Robert admitted he was “stoked to make it past week one,” and every subsequent week has felt like a “gift.” Whether or not he manages to join his sister in the Mirrorball winner’s circle, Robert Irwin has already achieved a far more important victory. He has found his own voice, forged his own path, and proven that the spirit of giving everything 100%—the spirit of the Crocodile Hunter—is alive and well, whether wrestling a croc or performing the perfect Paso Doble. His life-changing experience on DWTS has ensured that the Irwin family’s legacy will continue to evolve and inspire a generation in every corner of the world.