New Zealand Olympian Les Mills died peacefully around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, according to his family. He was 91. Mills competed in four Olympic Games, starting with the 1960 Rome Olympics right through to the 1972 Munich Games. He won bronze, silver, and gold Olympic medals in discus and shot put for New Zealand. He went on to open the first Les Mills gym with his wife, Colleen, in 1968, eventually becoming a global chain with more than 22,000 clubs worldwide. In a statement, his son, Phillip Mills, wrote, “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.” Nicki Nicol, chief executive of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, paid tribute to Mills in a statement. “His place in New Zealand’s Olympic history is firmly established and no doubt his legacy will continue to inspire,” she said. An Auckland native, he also served as mayor of the city for three consecutive terms, first winning the seat in 1990.
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