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Steve Irwin remembered during daughter Bindi's 'Dancing With the Stars' debut

The world lost the enthusiastic Australian zoologist best known as "The Crocodile Hunter" nine years ago, but Steve Irwin's legacy lives on.
/ Source: TODAY

The world lost the enthusiastic Australian zoologist best known as "The Crocodile Hunter" nine years ago, but Steve Irwin's legacy lives on.

Evidence of that can be seen in his 17-year-old daughter, Bindi, who brought both his love of animal conservation and her love for him to "Dancing With the Stars."

On Monday night, Bindi kicked off her "Dancing" debut by looking back at her famous father.

"My mom always said that any time Dad would watch me dance around the zoo, he would cry," she recalled. "I think that the real reason I’m doing this is to make him proud."

Bindi Irwin on Dancing With The Stars
Bindi Irwin on Dancing With The Stars.Dancing With The Stars / YouTube

Any parent would have been proud of her first-dance effort.

Bindi partnered with five-time "Dancing" champ Derek Hough — together known as #TeamCrikey — for a kicks-and-flicks-filled jive aptly set to Elton John's "Crocodile Rock." Her impressive performance put her at the top of the leaderboard, tied with Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

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