In brief
New Zealand’s athletic legend and fitness entrepreneur Les Mills has died at 91. Born in Dunedin, he first opened a modest gym with his wife in Auckland in 1968, which later grew into the worldwide Les Mills International chain renowned for Body Pump, Body Combat and other choreographed workouts. Beyond the gym, Mills represented his country at four Olympic Games, won five Commonwealth Games medals and served three terms as mayor of Auckland City. His son, Phillip, recalled that the man’s drive was always to help others, a legacy that lives on in fitness studios around the world. Mills’ impact on sport and community earned him a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and an MBE for services to sport.
Les Mills, a former Olympian and pioneering fitness entrepreneur, died at 91, his family confirmed. His legacy spans the world’s integrated workout programs, Olympic representation and civic leadership.
In 1968, he and his wife Colleen opened a small gym in Auckland, which evolved into the global Les Mills International network, famous for choreographed sessions set to music such as Body Pump and Body Combat.
A natural athlete, Mills competed in shot‑put and discus at four consecutive Olympic Games and gathered five Commonwealth Games medals, including a discus gold in Kingston (1966). His sporting excellence earned him an MBE in 1973 and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 for services to sport and local government.
In the 1990s, he served three terms as mayor of Auckland City, while staying active in athletics coaching—most notably guiding New Zealand discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina to a world title in 1997.
Phillip Mills, his son and co‑founder of Les Mills International, reflected: "He achieved a huge amount in his life. The common thread throughout—whether in fitness, politics or family life—was that he always wanted to help others. Dad was immensely strong, driven, and always cared deeply for the less advantaged. His spirit lives on in gym workouts around the world, continuing to help people fall in love with fitness."
Nicki Nicol, CEO of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, praised his Olympic legacy, stating the brand’s continued global influence would keep inspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. Les Mills’s enduring impact on sport and community will resonate for generations to come.
