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.”

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. 

“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. 

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