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Bindi Irwin Turns 17, Wakeboarder Chandler Powell Confirms He’s Her Boyfriend in Birthday Message

Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin is dating 18-year-old wakeboarder Chandler Powell.

Bindi Irwin's got a new boyfriend — and he's just as adventurous as she is! Earlier this week, the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's daughter told Entertainment Tonight there was "someone special" in her life, and in honor of her 17th birthday July 23, that behind-the-scenes boyfriend finally identified himself to wish his girlfriend well.

"Happy Birthday to this gorgeous girl! Feel very blessed to have you in my life," wakeboarder Chandler Powell Instagrammed in a Thursday message to his new girlfriend, who posed with him in the waterfront snapshot that accompanied his message. "Counting down the days until I get to see you again!"

Powell's Instagram offers a glimpse into his career as a competitive wakeboarder, with the teen — who has endorsements from brands including Muscle Milk — often posting images of his aerial tricks.

Though it's unclear just how long Irwin and Powell, 18, have been dating, Powell seems to be the type of guy who'd make her dad proud. "Dad said that if I did find someone to date that he would have to prove himself by swimming across our largest crocodile pond!" Irwin joked to Us Weekly earlier this year. "And if he made it to the other side, he could go out with me. I don't think we're going to go to that extreme, but it would still certainly have to be a very tough person to date me."

As it turns out, Florida native Powell had enough of a daredevil streak in him to give it a go! "I swam the croc pond!" he confirmed on Instagram Thursday.

Powell has known Irwin for more than a year, and recently signed on to join her as a global ambassador for the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors conservation program. "While it is true that Bindi is very special to me, we are very excited about focusing on our Wildlife Warriors work,” Powell told Aussie outlet TheFix. "We are keeping our personal lives personal."

Related: PHOTOS: Celeb animal lovers

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