Xochitl Gomez Congratulates Robert Irwin on “Dancing with the Stars” Win After Sparking Dating Rumors: 'So Incredibly Proud'

Xochitl Gomez is celebrating Robert Irwin’s new title: Mirrorball champion. 

Moments after the 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and his partner, Witney Carson, were named the official winners of Dancing with the Stars season 34, the Avengers actress, 19, took to social media to express how happy she was for her pals. 

“I am so incredibly proud of you two,” Gomez wrote alongside a video of Irwin and Carson receiving the trophy after competing against fellow celebrity contestants Alix Earle, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron and Elaine Hendrix. “What a season!❤️”

Even before Irwin took the stage to perform his final dances of the season, Gomez — who won Season 32 of DWTS with her partner Val Chmerkovskiy in 2023 — was seen greeting him outside his trailer with a big bouquet of flowers, as seen in photos shared by TMZ.

Gomez then supported Irwin from backstage and watched proudly as he practiced for his final freestyle performance. 

Romance rumors between the two have been running rampant since Gomez joined Irwin for the series’ 20th birthday celebration. After the two performed a Jive to Olly Murs’ “Dance with Me Tonight,” both fans and costars were immediately captivated by their effortless bond.

Indeed, judge Derek Hough went as far as calling out the pair’s “chemistry” during the Nov. 11 broadcast, after which Carson, 32, gave him a knowing look. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

During a recent interview with The New York Times, Irwin admitted that dating in the public eye is no easy feat. After all, being the son of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin means he has been in the spotlight since his televised birth. 

“Holy moly, that’s so challenging to navigate,” he explained of his dating life, particularly when “anything you do will be on TikTok the next day.”

Even so, Robert teased to PEOPLE in September what he’s looking for in a relationship.

"My mom and dad met when she was this American tourist coming over to Australia, and that's also how my sister met her husband," he explained of dad Steve and mom Terri Irwin, as well as his sister Bindi Irwin — who won the Mirrorball with partner Hough in 2015 — and her husband Chandler Powell. "I've been saying, when is that going to happen for me?!"

"I'm still waiting for it," he added. "That American tourist is not quite lined up."