- Les Mills Snr, founder of the Les Mills fitness empire and four-time Olympian, died June 29, 2026, at age 91 in Auckland, New Zealand.
- He represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games, won five Commonwealth Games medals, and later served three terms as Mayor of Auckland.
- What began as a single gym in 1968 grew into Les Mills International, now delivering group fitness programs in over 100 countries worldwide.
- His honors include the MBE (1973), CNZM (2002), and induction into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame (2022).
- LES MILLS España — counting 1,200 affiliated centers and 6,000+ trainers — joined the global tribute, pledging to carry forward his mission of transforming lives through movement.
Les Mills Snr, the four-time Olympian who founded the Les Mills fitness empire and reshaped group exercise into a global movement, died on June 29, 2026, at the age of 91. From a single gym in Auckland to a brand operating in over 100 countries, his vision turned fitness into a tool for personal transformation — a legacy that now spans generations of instructors and millions of participants worldwide.
A Life Built on Movement and Service
Born in Auckland in 1934, Les Mills Snr found purpose and discipline through sport at an early age. He represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games as a discus and shot put athlete, and claimed five Commonwealth Games medals — one gold, three silver, and one bronze — cementing his place among the nation’s elite competitors. Following his athletic career, he transitioned into coaching and sports administration, channeling the same drive that had propelled him onto the international stage.
The Birth of a Global Fitness Phenomenon
In 1968, Mills and his wife Colleen — herself an international athlete — opened their first gym in Auckland. What began as a family enterprise evolved into Les Mills New Zealand, and ultimately Les Mills International, the driving force behind some of the world’s most recognized group fitness programs. Signature workouts including Bodypump, Bodycombat, and Bodybalance are now taught by tens of thousands of instructors across more than 100 countries, built on a foundation of scientific rigor and standardized training methodology that Mills championed from the start.
Political Leadership and Civic Legacy
Beyond the fitness floor, Mills served three terms as Mayor of Auckland during the 1990s, overseeing major infrastructure upgrades and the revitalization of the city’s waterfront. His public service reflected the same ethos that defined his work in sport and fitness: a commitment to building stronger communities and improving everyday lives.
A Decorated Legacy of Recognition
Mills’ contributions earned him some of New Zealand’s highest honors. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1973 for services to sport, and later a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2002 for services to local government and sport. In 2022, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame alongside his son Phillip Mills and Jackie Mills, recognizing the family’s enduring impact on the global economy.
Transforming Lives Through Movement
Phillip Mills, Managing Director of Les Mills International and son of Les Mills Snr, reflected on his father’s extraordinary life: “He achieved so much across his lifetime. The common thread — whether in fitness, politics, or family — was always the desire to help others.” He recalled his father’s strength, determination, and deep compassion for the underprivileged.
From Spain, César Navarro Jr of LES MILLS España delivered a tribute that captured the international scope of Mills’ influence: “We bid farewell to an irreplaceable figure in our history and in the fitness industry. Les Mills Snr represents not just the origin of a brand, but a way of understanding training as a tool capable of transforming lives. From Spain, we join the global tribute and reaffirm our commitment to carrying forward his legacy and teachings — to inspire more people, every day, to discover the power of movement and fall in love with fitness.”
LES MILLS España alone counts over 1,200 affiliated centers and more than 6,000 certified instructors — a testament to the reach of Mills’ original vision across languages and cultures.
About Les Mills International
Les Mills International is the global leader in group fitness programming, delivering science-backed workouts to over 100 countries. Founded by Les Mills Snr in 1968, the company’s portfolio includes Bodypump, Bodycombat, Bodybalance, and other globally recognized programs. Beyond fitness, Les Mills partners with organizations including Trees for the Future and UNICEF’s Workout for Water initiative, and runs Born to Move, a program designed to introduce children and adolescents to the benefits of physical activity. For more information, visit lesmills.com.
