Les Mills, the former Olympic athlete and founder of the global fitness brand that bears his name, has died at the age of 91. His passing was confirmed by his family in a statement on Monday.
Mills represented New Zealand in athletics at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, where he won a bronze medal in the javelin. He later competed in the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and the 1960 Rome Olympics. But his legacy extends far beyond the track. In 1968, he founded Les Mills International, a fitness company that revolutionised group exercise programmes with classes such as BodyPump, BodyCombat and RPM. The brand now operates in over 100 countries, with more than 20,000 instructors delivering classes to millions of participants weekly.
"He was a pioneer who understood the power of music and movement to inspire people," said a spokesperson for the British Olympic Association. "His contribution to global fitness is immeasurable."
Mills was born in 1933 in Auckland, New Zealand. He began his athletic career as a runner before switching to field events. At the 1954 Commonwealth Games, he set a national record in the javelin that stood for five years. After retiring from competition, he turned to coaching and physical education, eventually opening a small gym in Auckland. The gym grew into a franchised operation that now sets the standard for group fitness worldwide.
His death has prompted tributes from across the sporting and fitness worlds. The New Zealand Olympic Committee called him "a giant of New Zealand sport and a global ambassador for health and wellness." Dame Valerie Adams, the double Olympic shot put champion, said Mills "inspired generations to move."
Mills is survived by his wife, two children, and several grandchildren. A private funeral is planned, with a public memorial service to be held in Auckland next month.
His family requests that any donations be made to the Les Mills Foundation, which supports youth sports programmes in New Zealand.
