Photo: Unknown author Unknown author (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons¹⁶

Les Mills

New Zealand athlete and politician (1934–2026)

Leslie Roy Mills (1 November 1934 – 29 June 2026) was a New Zealand track and field athlete, businessman and politician. He represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games over two decades, competing in the shot put and discus throw.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Les Mills (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Nov 1, 1934, died Jun 29, 2026.¹

About

He won a total of five medals at the Commonwealth Games including gold in the discus at the 1966 Games.

Mills opened his first gym in 1968, giving his name to Les Mills International, a fitness-centric company founded by his son Phillip Mills. Mills later went on to serve as the mayor of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, from 1990 to 1998.

From Wikipedia’s article on Les Mills, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Companies

Les Mills InternationalFounder¹⁵

Career

Occupation: discus thrower, entrepreneur, politician, shot putter, athletics competitor.⁵

1990 to 1998Mayor of Auckland City⁴
Date not recordedFounded Les Mills International³

1952: Wins New Zealand Junior shot put and discus titles

1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: discus, silver medal

1960 Summer Olympics: Captain and flagbearer for the New Zealand Team. Placed 11th in the shot put, and 28th in the discus.

1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: 5th place discus, 6th place shot put.

1964 Summer Olympics: 7th place shot put.

1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: gold medal discus, silver medal shot put.

1968 Summer Olympics: Competed injured, 11th place shot put.

1970 British Commonwealth Games: silver medal in the discus and a bronze in shot put.

1970 AAA Championships: winner

1971 AAA Championships: winner

1972 Summer Olympics: Olympic flagbearer for New Zealand. 14th place discus, 23rd shot put.

1974–1976 National Sports Director of Papua New Guinea.

1977–1979 First Director of Coaching in Athletics for New Zealand.

1978 Commonwealth Games New Zealand Coach.

Mills trained New Zealand throwers including Beatrice Faumuina. His personal best for the shot put was a New Zealand national record for 44 years, until 16-year-old Jacko Gill broke it on 23 April 2011 with a throw of 20.01 m.

From Wikipedia’s article on Les Mills (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

BornNov 1, 1934, New Lynn^{6 7}
CitizenshipNew Zealand⁸
ResidenceAuckland⁹
SpouseColleen Mills^{7 10}
Children2¹¹

Awards

2002Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit^{12 13}
1973Member of the Order of the British Empire¹²

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

1
WikidataLes Mills on Wikidata
2
WikipediaLes Mills on Wikipedia
3
WikidataLes Mills: Founded Les Mills International, on Wikidata
4
WikidataLes Mills: Mayor of Auckland City, on Wikidata
5
WikidataLes Mills: occupation, on Wikidata
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WikidataLes Mills: place of birth, on Wikidata
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Wikidataplace of birth, as reported
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WikidataLes Mills: citizenship, on Wikidata
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WikidataLes Mills: residence, on Wikidata
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WikidataLes Mills: spouse, on Wikidata
11
WikidataLes Mills: number of children, on Wikidata
12
WikidataLes Mills: award, on Wikidata
13
Wikidataaward, as reported
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WikidataLes Mills: Official website, on Wikidata
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WikidataLes Mills International, Founder
16
Wikimedia CommonsLes Mills photo by Unknown author Unknown author (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano), Public domain