Les Mills, the New Zealand Olympian and fitness entrepreneur who built a global exercise empire from a single Auckland gym, died at 91. Mills founded Les Mills International in 1968, transforming a local operation into one of the world's largest fitness franchise networks.
Mills competed as a weightlifter in the 1960 Rome Olympics, representing New Zealand. After his athletic career ended, he channeled that competitive spirit into fitness. He opened his first gym in Auckland with a straightforward mission: make exercise accessible and effective for ordinary people. That philosophy became the foundation for Les Mills International.
The company revolutionized group fitness through branded workout programs. Its flagship offerings, including BodyPump, BodyCombat, and Spin, became synonymous with high-energy, music-driven fitness classes. These proprietary formats spread across continents, establishing Les Mills as a dominant player in the global fitness industry. The company operates in over 100 countries through licensed gym partnerships, generating revenue from franchise fees and instructor certifications.
Mills' son Phillip continued expanding the business after taking leadership roles. The company survived the pandemic, a period that tested fitness chains nationwide. Many gyms shuttered permanently, but Les Mills adapted through digital offerings and hybrid models that combined in-studio and at-home streaming services.
The fitness industry mourned Mills as a visionary who understood that exercise needed structure, community, and consistency to sustain long-term participation. His program designs became templates for thousands of gym franchises. The standardized class formats, combined with music tracks released quarterly, created recurring revenue streams and brand loyalty that competitors struggled to replicate.
Mills' death closes a chapter on the modern fitness boom that began in the 1970s and 1980s. His business model influenced how commercial gyms operate today. The franchise approach allowed rapid international expansion without massive capital requirements. Today, Les Mills International remains a private company, but its influence on the fitness landscape remains visible in gyms worldwide.