The fitness industry is mourning the passing of Les Mills, a founding father of fitness, as Kath Hudson reports

RIP Leslie Roy Mills CNZM MBE
1 November 1934 – 29 June 2026

Les Mills, whose name became synonymous with one of the world’s leading fitness brands, has passed away peacefully at the age of 91.

A Kiwi icon, Mills created a fitness dynasty alongside his wife, Colleen. First through the Les Mills New Zealand chain of gyms and then through Les Mills International, the group training powerhouse started by their son Phillip and his partner Jackie and now supported by their children Diana Archer Mills and Les Mills Jnr.

Born in Auckland in 1934, Les lost his father aged 11, but found solace in fitness and physical culture. A talented track and field athlete, he represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games, competing in the discus and shot put.

Les won Commonwealth Games gold, three silver medals and one bronze, later becoming an elite international coach and sports administrator.

In 1953, he married Colleen Maree – herself a world-class track and field athlete – and the pair embarked on several business ventures together before uniting their passion for sport and commerce to launch the Les Mills World of Fitness gym in Auckland in 1968.

This grew to become a successful chain, built on the ethos that the purpose of a gym is to ‘help people fall in love with fitness’.

Mayor of Auckland

Later, Les entered politics, serving three terms as Mayor of Auckland City in the 1990s, where he led reforms to strengthen communities and improve infrastructure, as well as to regenerate the heart of the city and its waterfront with bold development projects. He also promoted and enhanced sporting opportunities in the city during what he called “eight fabulous years”.

After leaving politics, Les continued to coach athletes, help grow the family health and fitness businesses and support charity initiatives.

In 2002, he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, being appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government and sport. This followed an earlier 1973 Queen’s Birthday Honours appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport.

In 2022, together with Phillip and Jackie Mills, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Phillip Mills, founder and managing director of Les Mills International, says of his father: “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.”

Having lost Colleen in 2005, Les is survived by his children Phillip Mills and Donna Mills McArtney, daughter-in-law Jackie Mills, grandchildren Diana Archer Mills, Les Mills Jnr, Gabriel and Moana Mills McArtney and many great-grandchildren.

Les and Colleen Mills opened their first gym in 1968 in Auckland and it remains the flagship today / Les Mills

Les Mills Auckland in 1968 / Les Mills

Influence and impact

Liz Terry, editor of HCM, says: “Les Mills was one of the most influential figures in the history of fitness.

“An Olympian, Commonwealth champion, entrepreneur and civic leader, he transformed a single gym in Auckland into the foundation of one of the world’s most successful and loved fitness brands.

“Today, Les Mills International delivers group exercise programmes to more than 20,000 clubs in over 100 countries, reaching millions of participants every week.

“Although the company that bears his name was founded and built by his son, Phillip and daughter-in-law Jackie, Les contributed the vision, values and competitive spirit that made it possible and his life traced the evolution of fitness from a niche pursuit to a global movement.

“He was one of New Zealand’s greatest field athletes. Standing 1.88 metres tall and weighing more than 120kg while in competition, he combined immense power with exceptional athleticism.

“Les represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games – Rome in 1960, Tokyo in 1964, Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972 – competing in the shot put and discus. He served twice as New Zealand’s flagbearer and also won five Commonwealth Games medals, including gold in the discus in Kingston in 1966.

“His wife, Colleen Mills, and their children Phillip and Donna, were also accomplished international athletes, creating one of New Zealand’s most remarkable sporting families.

Gyms for the people

“In 1968, while still competing internationally, he opened a gym in central Auckland. At the time, the idea of ordinary people training with weights was far from mainstream. Gyms were associated with elite athletes and bodybuilders, rather than with the general public, but Les believed resistance training and structured exercise could improve the health and confidence of anyone.

“That conviction proved transformative. The club became a hub for innovation and grew into a chain of gyms bringing world-class fitness opportunities to New Zealand.

“His entrepreneurial instincts were matched by a belief that physical activity could be a force for social change, and from 1990 to 1998 he served as Mayor of Auckland, bringing huge energy to public life.

“He oversaw a period of major development in Auckland, introduced tighter fiscal controls and invested in the development of sports facilities.

“He was a man of formidable presence, deep integrity, relentless drive and great kindness and curiosity, who never stopped working to improve the world. He demanded excellence but inspired loyalty and affection in equal measure.

HCMmag.com

“The global success of the Les Mills brands, from Bodypump to Bodycombat and from Les Mills Yoga to Les Mills Ceremony, rests on the foundations he laid: athletic credibility, innovation and a commitment to helping people live healthier lives.

“Few individuals have shaped the modern fitness industry as profoundly as Les Mills, who turned sporting discipline into a business philosophy, inspiring the company that bears his name.

“He leaves behind a legacy measured not only in medals and achievements, but also in the millions of people whose lives have been changed through exercise.”

• Read our feature from June 2018, marking 50 years of Les Mills

Les Mills was a four-time Olympian in shot put and discus / Les Mills / Dean Podmore 

Les with Phillip and Jackie Mills and Diana Archer Mills marking 50 years of Les Mills