J.R. Martinez wins DWTS: 'Thank you for Believing in Us' [VIDEO]
![J.R. Martinez](https://d.medicaldaily.com/en/full/222135/jr-martinez.jpg?w=498&f=5a86a4849f05a2bad0bb72df288e3e92)
Actor and former Iraq War veteran J.R. Martinez and professional dance partner Karina Smirnoff won the 13th season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars Tuesday.
Martinez, 28, who had struggled with an ankle injury during the competition danced to his victory with two last routines: a jive and a samba. Then, few minutes before the show ended, he was announced the winner.
"Thank you, America, for believing in us," Martinez said after he was revealed as the winner.
His partner, Smirnoff, 33, who won the trophy for the first time also appeared excited.
"It's been such an emotional two days. This is what we've been working on for 10 weeks," she said.
All finalists - Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian and Martinez - performed their favorite dances from the season to add to their points scored by judges. Judges' votes are added to the audience's votes to determine the winner.
Ricki Lake and her partner Derek Hough were favorites to win the competition but were surprisingly eliminated at the beginning of Tuesday's show.
"Third place is just fine by me. I'm so happy for J.R."
In second place, Rob Kardashian, whose dancing partner was Cheryl Burke, congratulated Martinez for the victory.
"I feel really good. I couldn't have asked for anything better from myself. We gave everything we could. J.R. deserved to win that trophy. He worked so hard for it," said Kardashian.
Watch below J.R. Martinez Winner Interview: