Kristi Yamaguchi fulfilled admirers’ wishes on the season finale of “Dancing with the Stars,” winning the coveted mirror ball trophy and breaking the line of consecutive male winners.

The Olympic champion was crowned queen of the dancing competition’s sixth season, becoming the first female participant to win since the ABC show’s inaugural season. The odds had been in her favor from the very beginning, with jury and audience alike agreeing that she was in her element on the dance floor.

Yamaguchi and her professional dancer partner Mark Ballas were no match for remaining finalists Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska and Latino actor Cristián de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke.

Yamaguchi received one top score after another during the succeeding weeks of this season’s competition and she appropriately ended the contest with unbeatable scores. While the judges fully appreciated her grace, technique and sheer determination, fans had their share in her victory as well.

Latino actor de la Fuente was eliminated early Tuesday during the two-hour finale. He made it to the finals with an injured tendon and he confessed this was an important lesson for him, not giving up despite vicissitudes and carrying on.

Neither he nor Taylor bore Yamaguchi a grudge, generously and unabashedly praising the athlete’s skills and talent and describing her as “just perfect.”

The NFL star also confessed that as a child, he had grown up watching Yamaguchi’s performances – he only found it natural that a childhood hero win the competition.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Yamaguchi had multiple assets: she was “technically great,” performed “incredible choreography” and had years of experience as a hard-working athlete that values determination, effort and constructive criticism. The 1992 Olympic Champion in women’s singles was also used to performing before a crowd and she even excelled in this.

The 36-year-old mother of two dedicated her trophy to “all those women out there to continue to be strong.” Kelly Monaco was the first and for a long time only woman to win the “Dancing” prize.

This was an interesting season in terms of participants, who came from all walks of entertainment: actress and famous former wife of Elvis Presley, Priscilla Presley; radio/TV personality Adam Carolla; Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin; tennis champion Monica Seles; R&B singer Mario; and actors Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

Last season’s champion was race-car driver Helio Castroneves.