Les Mills, four-time Olympian, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, former Auckland mayor and founder of a fitness empire, has died. He was 91.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the Mills family confirmed his death, describing him as "an absolute legend" and "a Kiwi icon who blazed a trail in sport, business, politics and life".
"He laid the foundations for a movement that has inspired millions around the world to fall in love with fitness – a legacy that lives on in every workout."
Leslie Roy Mills MBE, CNZM was born in Auckland on November 1, 1934. The death of his father led him to find solace in fitness and he grew into an athlete that would represent New Zealand on the world stage for more than a decade.
He competed at four Olympic Games — 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972 — in the shot put and discus throw, and represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games across two decades. His national shot put record of 19.81 metres stood for 44 years.
At the 1960 Rome Olympics he served as captain and flagbearer for the New Zealand team, an honour he would repeat at the 1972 Munich Games.
His crowning moment as an athlete came at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, where he won gold in the discus and silver in the shot put.
Aged 19, Mills married Colleen, herself a world-class track and field athlete. In 1968, the couple opened a gym in Auckland. His son Phillip and daughter-in-law Jackie would go on to build that venture into Les Mills International — a fitness company whose programmes are delivered in gyms across more than 100 countries.
While Phillip and Jackie were taking group fitness global with the explosion of BodyPump, Mills entered politics.
He served as Mayor of Auckland City from 1990 to 1998. His tenure reshaped the city, with the opening of the Aotea Centre, work beginning on the America's Cup village at the Viaduct, and the Sky Tower rising above the skyline before he left office in 1998.
His Britomart Transport Project — a major rail hub built around 11 heritage buildings — was fiercely opposed at the time.
While in office, he found time to coach, mentoring discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina to the 1997 world title and the 1998 Commonwealth crown, and was named Halberg Coach of the Year in 1998.
His son Phillip, managing director of Les Mills International, paid tribute, saying his father's drive was always rooted in 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."
"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."
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1973 for services to sport, and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 for services to local government and sport. In 2022, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame alongside Phillip and Jackie.
He is survived by his children Phillip and Donna, daughter-in-law Jackie, and grandchildren Diana, Les Jr, Gabriel and Moana, as well as many great-grandchildren.
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