LOS ANGELES - JR Martinez joined a chapter of the fairy tale Dancing With the Stars ABC, by hoisting the trophy mirror ball with the show after the final victory Tuesday night.
Martinez, an Army veteran who often joked early in the season about how much of a stranger, he was on the celebrity dance competition, went to inspire millions of viewers with its story of recovery a landmine explosion in 2003 in Iraq.
During the final two-day event, Martinez, 28, and Pro Partner Karina Smirnoff, 33, was also quite impressed with their fancy footwork to win season 13 title, the first Smirnoff. "Thank you, America, believe in us," said Martinez.
After the show, an enthusiastic Martinez said: "I just breathe and take all in. It was such an amazing journey."
When he won, he said, the scene was "all cried and cried. ... I continued to feel that someone is coming to my belt. It was my 4-foot-11 mother. I kissed her and kissed her. I said, 'Do you think the 8 1 / 2 years, you were taught me to go? "
