WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The global fitness and sporting community is mourning the loss of Les Mills, the legendary New Zealand Olympian, former Auckland mayor and founder of the eponymous worldwide fitness brand, who passed away peacefully on Monday at the age of 91. No specific cause of death was shared in the official announcement posted to the company’s website.
Born in Auckland in 1934, Mills first discovered his passion for competitive sport at age 11, when he entered his first athletics event — a running race at a local community park. His athletic talent would carry him to compete for New Zealand in discus and shot put across four consecutive Olympic Games, and he claimed a total of five medals throughout his appearances at the Commonwealth Games. One of his most notable athletic achievements came at the 1966 Kingston Commonwealth Games, where he took home gold in the discus event. A year later, he set a New Zealand national shot put record of 19.81 meters that would stand unbroken for 44 years.
After an athletics scholarship brought him to the United States in the mid-20th century, Mills witnessed the rapid expansion of the emerging fitness industry and returned home inspired to launch his own gym facility. He opened the first Les Mills gym in Auckland in 1968, growing the domestic chain to 12 locations across New Zealand over the decades. Later, his son Phillip Mills expanded the brand globally, launching Les Mills International, which offers signature group fitness classes including the wildly popular BodyPump and BodyCombat programs. Today, these classes are taught by certified instructors in more than 100 countries around the world, cementing the Les Mills name as a household brand in global fitness.
Beyond athletics and fitness, Mills also left his mark on public service. He served as mayor of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and most populous city, for two terms from 1990 to 1998. After retiring from competitive sports, he worked as a coach and sporting administrator across multiple disciplines, including track and field, weightlifting, and football. From 1974 to 1976, he served as national sports director for Papua New Guinea, where he helped build new athletic infrastructure and train local coaching staff across the Pacific island nation.
In a statement following his father’s passing, Phillip Mills reflected on his legacy: “Dad was immensely strong, driven, and always cared deeply for the less advantaged. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met, and his spirit lives on in gym workouts around the world, continuing to help people fall in love with fitness.”
Mills was predeceased by his wife Colleen in 2005. He is survived by his two children Phillip and Donna, daughter-in-law Jackie, four grandchildren, and multiple great-grandchildren.