Les Mills

Les Mills was a weight thrower who competed at four Olympics between 1960-72 with four appearances in the shot put and three in the discus throw. His best Olympic finish was seventh in the 1964 shot put. At the British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won five medals, with a gold medal in the 1966 discus throw. In New Zealand he was a 10-time National Champion in the shot put and seven times in the discus.

Away from the competitive field Mills was best known for founding Les Mills International, which became a family-owned fitness empire. The company promoted group aerobics sessions and popularized aerobics in New Zealand and the world. Mills was inspired to start the company while attending school in the USA at the University of Southern California, where he saw the emerging gym culture.

Mills started his first gym in Auckland in 1968, originally named Les Mills World of Fitness. His son, Phillip, later turned Les Mills New Zealand into Les Mills International, eventually expanding to over 100 countries. Both Phillip and Les Mills’ daughter, Donna, competed at the Commonwealth Games.

Mills became the national sports director for Papua New Guinea from 1974 to 1976, leading the country to its first Olympics, and he also coached the New Zealand track team. Mills was elected mayor of Auckland City, serving from 1990-98, and was named a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1973 and Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002.

Personal Bests: SP – 19.80 (1967); DT – 61.52 (1971).