Les Mills: The Fitness Legend Who Became New Zealand’s Biggest Olympian

Sun Sep 06 2026 14:19:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Musician‑style workouts and city council service collide in the life of Olympic champion Les Mills, who passed away at 91.

Les Mills, the co‑founder of the worldwide workout brand that set the rhythm for body‑pump & body‑combat, died at 91. The New Zealand Olympian turned mayor was a pioneer in fitness, politics and community support, winning five Commonwealth medals while launching a gym that grew across the country. His spirit lives on in every gym class and every community initiative that he helped start.

The One‑Man Revolution That Shaped Fitness

Les Mills, a former shot‑putter and discus thrower who competed in four Olympic Games, didn't just lift weights – he lifted the entire fitness industry. In 1968 he and his wife opened a single gym in Auckland, which blossomed into a chain that now rings the ears of millions through choreographed workouts set to music.

From Track to Town Hall

After a storied sporting career, the New Zealand hero turned his sights to politics. He served three terms as mayor of Auckland City in the 1990s, using his platform to bend public spaces toward health, education and community well‑being.

A Legacy That Keeps on Giving

His son Phillip, together with partner Jackie, expanded the original gym into Les Mills International, turning it into a global brand that gives people the tools to stay fit and tune out stress. “Dad was incredibly strong and always cared for the less advantaged,” one son said, echoing the man’s lifelong mission to help others.

With five Commonwealth medals, including a gold in discus at the 1966 Kingston Games, and honors like a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, his name is forever linked to sport and service. The echo of his footsteps can still be heard in every workout class worldwide – a reminder that fitness is more than muscle; it’s community, resilience and music.