DWTS Winner Laurie Hernandez Had 'Same Joy' Winning Mirror Ball as She Did Olympic Medals

The young gymnast appeared live on "GMA" Nov. 23.

ByABC News
November 23, 2016, 10:01 AM

— -- Laurie Hernandez now has a mirror ball trophy to shine alongside her Olympic gold.

The young gymnast won "Dancing With the Stars" Season 23 last night, as she and pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy received nothing but perfect 10s.

"It felt amazing," Hernandez said this morning on "GMA." "I had that same joy as I had at the Olympics. It was such an accomplishing moment. It was exciting."

"I'm so grateful," she added.

With her final dance, a trio samba, Hernandez beat out her fellow contestants IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe and former NFL player Calvin Johnson Jr.

Chmerkovskiy said Hernandez brought out the "youthful joy" in him as his dancing partner.

"To see that in a young person is very inspiring for anybody," he said. "She's really special, and I wanted to do a good job for her, and I hope I did."

Related Topics