Les Mills, 91, Pioneer of Global Fitness, Dies
Fitness expert and former Olympian Les Mills has died at the age of 91, his family announced.
A 1968 pioneer, he and his wife Colleen opened Auckland’s first gym, which evolved into that global network known for music‑synced workouts like Body Pump and Body Combat.
Mills’ Olympic career spanned four Games, competing in shot put and discus. He later served as Mayor of Auckland City for three terms and remained active in sport coaching, guiding athletes such as discus champion Beatrice Faumuina.
In 2002 he was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government and sport, and he had a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1973 for his sporting contributions.
Phil Mills, his son, said his father “achieved a huge amount in his life” and that his compassion for others shaped a legacy that now lives on globally through gym routines.
The Olympic and Commonwealth medals he won—including a discus gold in Kingston, Jamaica, 1966—cement his place in New Zealand sports history, observers note.
