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'Dancing With the Stars' season 23 news: Laurie Hernandez bags Mirrorball Trophy, compares it with her Olympic gold medal

Jackie Villegas Thursday, November 24, 2016

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Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez was awarded the Mirrorball Trophy in this week's "Dancing With the Stars" ("DWTS") season 23 finale.

The results of this season's competition probably didn't come as much of a surprise to many viewers as Hernandez and her pro partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy were among the favorites to win.

On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Hernandez and Chmerkovskiy beat race car driver James Hinchcliffe and his pro partner Sharna Burgess in the season's final dance-off.

"I just want to thank everyone for their support riding along this crazy roller coaster of my life," Hernandez said after the winners were announced. "My goal is just to inspire others as I go on with my journey and thanks for being there for me," she added.

In an interview with USA TODAY after the Tuesday night broadcast, Hernandez equated winning the Mirrorball Trophy to winning an Olympic gold.

"Honestly, I feel like they tied [with] each other," she told the outlet. According to Hernandez, she had dreamed about joining the Olympics as a kid and worked hard to make it happen. Similarly, she revealed that she had always been passionate about dance.

"I've always loved to dance and my passion was dancing as well as gymnastics," she said, "so winning the Mirrorball today was insane and amazing."

Hernandez is the fifth Olympian to bag the Mirrorball Trophy after figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, ice dancer Meryl Davis, speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, and gymnast Shawn Johnson. When asked if she will be placing her "DWTS" trophy beside her Olympic medals, the 16-year-old said that she probably will "or maybe like in the center of my house."

Hernandez, who joined the rest of the season 23 competitors at the post-show red carpet, will participate in the "DWTS" live tour.

Speaking with USA TODAY, "DWTS" co-host Erin Andrews said that this season's finalists all deserved to go home with awards. "We could have given out three trophies tonight," she said.