Les Mills, the New Zealand Olympian whose name became synonymous with fitness centers and group workout classes around the world, passed away Monday at the age of 91, according to a statement from the company he founded.
The statement, posted to the company’s website, said Mills died “peacefully” but did not disclose a cause of death.
Known formally as Leslie Roy Mills, he represented New Zealand at four separate Olympic Games, competing in discus and shot put events, and collected five medals at the Commonwealth Games throughout his athletic career. He also served as the mayor of Auckland — New Zealand’s largest city — from 1990 to 1998.
While his athletic and political achievements were significant, Mills is perhaps most widely recognized for the fitness brand he created. He opened his first gym in Auckland in 1968, and that original location has since grown into a chain of 12 gyms operating across New Zealand.
It was his son, Phillip Mills, who later expanded the brand internationally through Les Mills International, developing group fitness programs such as BodyPump and BodyCombat — classes now offered in more than 100 countries, according to the company.
Phillip Mills paid tribute to his father in a written statement: “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 born in Auckland in 1934 and got his start in athletics at age 11, competing in a running race at a local park. According to his family, it was an athletics scholarship that took him to the United States, where he witnessed the booming fitness industry firsthand — an experience that inspired him to open his own gym.
Among his athletic highlights, Mills claimed gold in the discus throw at the 1966 Commonwealth Games held in Kingston, Jamaica. He also set a New Zealand national record in the shot put, throwing 19.81 meters — or 65 feet — in 1967, a record that stood unbroken for 44 years.
After stepping away from competition, Mills transitioned into coaching and sports administration, working across disciplines including track and field, weightlifting, and football. From 1974 to 1976, he served as the national sports director in Papua New Guinea, where he worked to develop athletic facilities and train staff throughout the country.
Mills was preceded in death by his wife Colleen, who passed away in 2005. He is survived by his children Phillip and Donna, daughter-in-law Jackie, grandchildren Diana, Les Jr., Gabriel, and Moana, as well as many great-grandchildren, his family said.
