Robert Irwin is waltzing out of the ballroom with a trophy and an injury.

The Dancing With the Stars season 34 champion—alongside partner Witney Carson —assured fans he’s on the path to recovery after injuring his rib in the final stretch of the ABC competition series, though the sting of the setback could still be felt.

“We’re getting there,” he said during an appearance on Good Morning America Nov. 26. “It’s painful, but no pain, no gain.”

The 21-year-old went on to credit his pro for her efforts to make their intricate choreography more manageable.

“Witney was amazing at changing up some of the moves that we had to do in there,” he continued. “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 jour

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