Robert Irwin says his mother, Terri Irwin, is the reason he never felt the weight of growing up without his dad. Her strength, he admits, shaped every part of who he is today. In an interview with People after “Dancing With the Stars” Dedication Night on Oct. 14, the 21-year-old conservationist reflected on his mom’s remarkable strength in the years following his father Steve Irwin’s death, and how she made his world feel whole again.

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Steve Irwin with her daughter Bindi (L) and son Bob (R)
“I think, growing up, there are certain things as a kid that you don’t realize,” Robert shared. “A credit to my mum — I never felt as though I ever missed out on anything in life. I always felt, obviously, I was missing a very big part of my life, but she made sure that I never felt I missed out. I got to have such an incredible childhood.”

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Steve Irwin, (R) shows a snake to his wife Terri (L) at the San Francisco Zoo on June 26, 2002
Steve Irwin died in 2006 at age 44 after being struck by a stingray while filming in Australia. Now, nearly two decades later, Robert says he truly understands the “strength” his mother found to keep going, raising him and his sister, Bindi, while continuing the legacy she built with Steve.

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A Moving Performance on ‘DWTS’ That Made Judges Cry On Live TV

During Week 5 of “Dancing With the Stars”, Robert Irwin and his pro partner Witney Carson delivered one of the most moving performances of the season. Dancing a contemporary routine to “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan, Robert dedicated the number to his mother, Terri Irwin.

As the music faded, Terri walked onto the dance floor, wrapping her son in an emotional embrace. From the audience, Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, watched through tears before running to join them.

 

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For Robert, the performance was a way to express the depth of love and gratitude he’s carried for years. “For so long, all I’ve wanted to do is just express my gratitude to her,” he said. “To finally be able to do that in a way where I can give 100 percent of myself physically and emotionally in this dance—it’s just everything.”

The heartfelt moment brought both the judges and audience to tears. Derek Hough, who previously partnered with Bindi on DWTS, said, “The love I have for your family… I’m so proud of you. You’ve become such an amazing man, and the world needs the Irwin family.”

Terri Irwin’s Strength & Love

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Bindi, Terri, and Robert Irwin attend the official launch of the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo on November 15, 2008, on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
In his interview, Robert reflected on how his mother carried both parental roles while keeping his father’s presence alive in their lives. “At every milestone, when I just wish that my dad was there, she was there, and that was enough,” he said. “I struggle a lot with losing Dad, but she always made sure my dad was present in our lives. I wanted to know how proud my dad would be of her.”

He added, “My mum teaches me every day what it is to put one foot in front of the other, even when it’s so hard to do that. She’s such a kind, vulnerable, and strong human being.”

Redefining What It Means to Be Strong

(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images for Mary Poppins Australia)Terri Irwin (L) and Robert Irwin
Robert shared that his mother has taught him that real strength isn’t about staying stoic, it’s about allowing yourself to feel. “One of the most important things my mum exemplifies is what it means to be strong,” he said. “So many people think strength means just carrying on and pretending everything is fine. That’s not what strength is. True strength is being able to feel your own vulnerability and use that to carry yourself and help others.”

Before receiving his scores, Robert smiled through tears and said, “This is for all the moms out there who don’t get the recognition they deserve.”

Guest judge Kym Johnson praised Terri, saying, “You’re just an incredible woman.” Bruno Tonioli added softly, “Your father is looking at you, kid, and he’s smiling.”