Derek Hough has had many partners in his Dancing With the Stars career but he's never had anyone like Bindi Irwin.

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Irwin and Hough just won the Mirrorball trophy for season 21 of Dancing With the Stars after two months of blood, sweat and tears. But even through all the hard work, Irwin always maintained a positive spirit, which Hough wrote about in his final TVGuide.com blog entry of the season.

Hough had some very high praise for his 17-year-old partner.

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"I might be biased, but I think Bindi is one of the greatest contestants the show has ever had -- and not just talent-wise. She's such a tremendous soul and just a wonderful human being," Hough wrote. "I am not exaggerating when I say I have never met anyone like her before. She's just special. I'm 13 years older than her, but she's taught me so much about life, love, grace and joy. Her joy and spirit are contagious. I wish everyone can be around her for a few seconds to feel it. It was an honor to be able to be her partner and to teach her to dance."

Together, they broke a Dancing With the Stars record for the most perfect scores in a single season with eight.

Now, Irwin and Hough will both be taking a much needed vacation. Hough admitted that he was still feeling a bit sick while Irwin has to recover from the various blisters on her feet.

"Hopefully the next time I see her feet, they won't look like a rotting carcass!" he quipped.

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