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New Zealand Olympian Les Mills, who founded what grew into a global fitness brand and later served three terms as mayor of Auckland, died at the age of 91 on Monday, his family announced.
The family of Leslie Roy Mills confirmed his passing in statements carried by multiple outlets including RNZ and ABC News, which noted the death came after a career that blended elite sport with entrepreneurship and civic leadership. His son Phillip Mills said in the announcement that his father achieved a huge amount in his life. Phillip Mills added that the common thread throughout, whether in fitness, politics or family life, was that he always wanted to help others.
Mills was born in Auckland on November 1 1934 and overcame a difficult childhood after losing his father at a young age according to a report published by News.com.au. Athletics New Zealand records show he won 13 national senior shot put titles and 11 senior discus titles while setting a national shot put record of 19.80 metres that stood for 44 years until 2011. He represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games between 1960 and 1972 competing in shot put and discus and served as the national flagbearer at both the 1960 and 1972 Games according to the New Zealand Olympic Committee and official Olympic archives.
Mills won five medals at the Commonwealth Games including discus gold in 1966 at Kingston with additional silvers and a bronze between 1958 and 1970 RNZ reported. He later coached leading athletes including Beatrice Faumuina who captured the 1997 world discus title. The New Zealand Olympic Committee noted that his athletic career established him as one of the country’s standout performers in throwing events.
With his late wife Colleen Mills opened his first gym in Auckland in 1968 which expanded into a nationwide chain according to accounts from both the BBC and RNZ. Their son Phillip and partner Jackie built on that foundation to create Les Mills International known worldwide for choreographed group fitness programmes such as BodyPump and BodyCombat set to music. The company website stated that Mills laid the foundations for a movement inspiring millions around the world to fall in love with fitness with his legacy living on in every workout.
Mills entered local politics in the 1990s serving as mayor of Auckland City for three terms from 1990 to 1998 multiple New Zealand outlets reported. He received an MBE in 1973 for services to sport and was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 for contributions to local government and sport. Nicki Nicol the chief executive of the New Zealand Olympic Committee said Mills set a standard for what it takes to represent New Zealand at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Nicol added that his place in New Zealand’s Olympic history is firmly established and no doubt his legacy will continue to inspire. The Les Mills company described him as a versatile sportsman successful business owner inspiring leader and former mayor calling him an absolute legend in a public tribute. Phillip Mills further noted that his father was immensely strong driven and always cared deeply for the less advantaged with that spirit enduring through the global reach of the fitness programmes he helped launch.
