Now that’s true love and support! Bindi Irwin’s boyfriend, Chandler Powell, took to Instagram on Tuesday, Nov. 24, to express his excitement over her Dancing With the Stars win, and the wakeboarding champ couldn’t resist sharing a few heartfelt words.
“CONGRATULATIONS @bindisueirwin!!!!!” he captioned the photo, in which Bindi’s assistant lifts the Mirrorball Trophy with a shocked expression on his face as Bindi and her younger brother, Bob, grin at the camera. “I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you have and it all paid off. Three months without taking a single day off! You deserve this.”
The athlete, 19, used the hashtags “#Champion” and “#TeamCrikey” in honor of Bindi’s amazing run on the show.
On Tuesday, Bindi, 17, and her DWTS partner, Derek Hough, took home the coveted trophy after besting runner-up Nick Carter and his dancing partner, Sharna Burgess.
“I am speechless,” she posted to Twitter shortly after the big finale. “I can’t tell you how much love I have for all of your support throughout this beautiful journey.”
But, she admitted to Us Weekly moments after laying claim to the Season 21 championship, “Honestly, I’m excited to get back into my khakis and be with the animals again.”
No doubt Bindi can’t wait to reunite with Powell as well after several months of a long-distance relationship. (Powell was based in Florida for the duration of Bindi’s DWTS training, though the pair saw each other at least once every two months.)
Bindi and Powell, who have been dating for nearly two years, stepped out together for the first time on the red carpet in L.A, in late September.
“It’s awesome being here,” Powell told Us exclusively at the time. “Bindi is crushing it and I loved seeing the whole show! I loved seeing everyone dance. I expected her to do really well but she is exceeding my expectations! I am really proud of her.”
