Former Olympian and the man behind a global fitness empire, Les Mills, has died leaving behind a profound legacy that spanned sports, international business, and politics.
Mills passed away at the age of 91 on June 29, 2026.
Born in Auckland in 1934, Mills overcame a difficult childhood, losing his father at just 11 years old.
He found refuge in physical culture and strength training, developing into a world-class powerhouse.
He represented New Zealand in discus and shot put at four Olympic Games, famously captaining the Kiwi team at the 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and claiming a haul of gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games.
However, it was his transition from the sporting arena to the business world that would ultimately alter the global fitness landscape forever.
In 1968, alongside his wife and fellow athlete, Colleen Mills, the former Olympian opened his very first gym in Auckland.
It became the foundation of Les Mills New Zealand (LMNZ), a gym chain that quickly became a cornerstone of Kiwi culture.
The family business truly exploded into a global powerhouse when his son, Phillip, and daughter-in-law, Jackie, created Bodypump in 1991.
Pioneered under the Les Mills brand, the class revolutionised group fitness by bringing barbell training out of the heavyweight rooms and into mainstream studio classes, choreographed to high-energy hit music.
Today, the ‘Les Mills method’, anchored by Bodypump, alongside other global hits like Bodycombat and Bodyattack, is implemented in more than 20,000 gyms and health clubs across 100 countries, including major fitness chains throughout Australia.
This includes the Australian iconic gym chain, Fitness First, that offers a wide range of Les Mills classes, including staples like Bodypump and Les Mills Core.
Mills’ original vision from 1968 was “to help people fall in love with fitness,” which is now a daily reality for millions of gym-goers worldwide who participate in these structured, science-backed group workouts.
Beyond the gym, Mills was a formidable figure in New Zealand politics.
He served three terms as the Mayor of Auckland City in the 1990s, where he spearheaded major infrastructure overhauls and led the revitalisation of Auckland’s now-iconic central waterfront district.
His immense contributions to local government and sport earned him prestigious royal honours, including being named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1973 and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2002.
In 2022, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.
In a statement, his son Phillip Mills, Managing Director of Les Mills International, paid tribute to his father’s lifelong dedication to uplifting others.
“He achieved a huge amount in his life. And the common thread throughout – whether in fitness, politics or family life – was that he always wanted to help others,” Phillip Mills wrote.
“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.”
Predeceased by his wife, Ms Mills, in 2005, Les Mills Snr is survived by his children Phillip and Donna, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.