Irwin and Carson during the "Dancing with the Stars" finale.
Carson and Irwin dance during the finale episode of "Dancing with the Stars."

"Dancing with the Stars" ended with a spectacular crescendo, as wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his pro partner Witney Carson laid claim to the Mirrorball trophy.

Their victory on Tuesday, Nov. 25, marked the end of a particularly competitive (and closely watched) season, as stars like Olympian Jordan Chiles and influencer Alix Earle duked it own on the dance floor. But Irwin, 21, won the hearts of viewers early on, charming the audience with his touching family story and seemingly relentless positivity.

Irwin, the son of late conservationist Steve Irwin, took home the trophy exactly 10 years after sister Bindi Irwin won Season 21 of the ballroom dancing competition show. His win also came after he suffered a rib injury just before the finale.

Before he was a Mirrorball champ, headed out on tour to promote his win, USA TODAY visited Irwin in the "Dancing with the Stars" rehearsal studio, where he was learning a Paso Doble alongside Carson.

"Every single time I step onto the floor, there's a sense of like, 'What the heck am I doing here?' but in the best way," he told USA TODAY in October. "It's this sense of accomplishment because we put in so much every week."

While Carson said Irwin wasn't all that comfortable with the shirtless sequence that sent fans into a tizzy during Week 3 of the show, her sense of his potential-winner status was rooted in his ability to go where she asked.

"He's fearless, and you kind of have to be that way in this experience. You have to commit to looking like a fool for a minute and then getting to the good part," she said.

Irwin's admiration of his partner was similarly evident. As she spoke, he beamed, responding later with a "good on you mate," and never wavering in that happy-go-lucky spirit.

Later in the hair and makeup trailer, the show's longtime glam team affirmed that he was really just like that – all the time.

Joking that he was the "blankest of canvases" in the dance department, Irwin quipped: "Witney just molds a dancer out of basically just a stick."

Later, though, he took a more serious tone, calling it "an honor and a privilege" to get to bring something to America every week that they're excited to watch.

At the time, he didn't yet know just how excited they would be.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robert Irwin speaks out on 'honor' to compete on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Reporting by Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect