Robert Irwin is first competitor on Dancing with | TV Shows

Dancing with the Stars has named Robert Irwin as the first celebrity competitor of season 34.

The 21-year-old conservationist and zookeeper said he is “over the moon” following Tuesday’s announcement at Disney Entertainment Television’s Get Real Event, which he attended shirtless and with a snake around his neck.

Robert, whose late father Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray at age 44 in 2006, said, “I cannot tell you what a privilege, what an honor it is to be joining this season.”

He then said the fact that his sister, Bindi Irwin, competed on the show in 2015 motivated him to try to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

Robert told the crowd, “I said, ‘One day, that’s gonna be me.’ And now, that dream is a reality and I am over the moon. Let’s do this!”

In 2019, Robert’s sister told The Project about the challenging physical tasks contestants face in order to perform well on the show.

“It’s such a challenge. I don’t think people realize how much work goes on behind the scenes, it’s a huge commitment,” she said.

Bindi then said her favorite thing about the competition was the opportunity to share a part of yourself with the audience.

The TV personality, who danced in front of a black-and-white portrait of her father, explained, “What I think is so wonderful about Dancing With The Stars is that you get to share your journey and your story.”