Les Mills
Leslie ("Les") Roy Isaac Mills CNZM, MBE, (born November 1, 1934 in Auckland) is a retired New Zealand athlete, who represented New Zealand at Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games over two decades. He competed in Shot Put, Discus and Weightlifting events. At the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, he achieved his best result, a gold medal in Discus.
After retiring from active competition, he became a gym owner in 1968 and a successful businessman. He has developed a series of group fitness-to-music classes now available internationally, the "Body..." series of classes, BodyStep, BodyCombat, BodyPump, BodyAttack, BodyBalance, BodyJam, BodyVive and RPM.
Mayor of Auckland
Mills served as the Mayor of Auckland between 1990 and 1998. His Mayoral term commenced after the local body amalgamation which saw many of the district borough councils merged into one larger city. Mills oversaw the merger of these many district boroughs into one city with comparatively little angst. The Aotea Centre was also opened at the beginning of his term.Other initiatives which commenced on Mills' watch as Mayor included the introduction of the green "wheelie bins", metered user charges for water use, council assets like golf courses were leased to private management, and the city also quit some assets that no longer were of priority, like its abbatoir.
Other major events during Mills' tenure included work commencing on the America's Cup Village at the Auckland viaduct, the commencement and opening of the Sky Tower and Casino complex that now dominates the Auckland skyline, the redevelopment of the Civic theatre, and refurbishment of the Auckland Town Hall.
During this period, the 1998 Auckland power crisis occurred, which shut down most of the inner city, although it should be noted that this event was principly the responsibility of Mercury Energy and the then Auckland Electric Power Board. Mills' Britomart Transport Centre plans also came under some criticism as being too focused on property development and not enough on transport. His successor Christine Fletcher led plans for a scaled down Britomart Station without the large property development plans.
Mills was defeated in a three way contest between himself, businessman Richard Holden and eventual winner Christine Fletcher in 1998. Mills himself was absent for most of the election campaign, leading the New Zealand at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, and mentoring the gold medal winning discus thrower Beatrice Fauamina.
Athletics career
- 1952: Wins New Zealand Junior Shot and Discus
- 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: Discus, Silver Medal
- 1960 Summer Olympics: Captain and Flagbearer for the New Zealand Team. Placed 11th in Shot Put, and 28th in Discus.
- 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: 5th place Discus, 6th place Shot.
- 1964 Summer Olympics: 7th place Shot.
- 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games: Gold Medal Discus, Silver Medal Shot Put
- 1968 Summer Olympics: Competed injured, 11th place Shot
- 1970 British Commonwealth Games: Discus Silver Medal, Shot Put Bronze Medal.
- 1972 Summer Olympics: 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.
He also has trained New Zealand throwers, such as Beatrice Faumuina.
Development of group exercise classes
Since retiring from athletics Les Mills has developed a series of fitness-to-music classes that are currently running in more than 55 countries, with an estimated four million participants a week. There are eight classes: BodyAttack®, BodyBalance (BodyFlow)®, BodyPump®, BodyCombat®, BodyJam®, BodyStep (LMI Step)®, BodyVive® and RPM®. These are updated quarterly with a new release of music and choreography.
Les Mills International has just released a new program to add to its current range. BodyVive® is a low-impact class, incorporating aerobic exercise, resistance work for strength and stability, as well as stretching and mobility work. BodyVive® is a 55-minute workout particularly suited to active gym members in their 40s, 50s and 60s. It will also appeal to group exercise beginners and anyone attracted to such low-impact integrated exercise.
External links
- 1934 births
- Living people
- New Zealand athletes
- Olympic athletes of New Zealand
- Athletes at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Athletes at the 1964 Summer Olympics
- Athletes at the 1968 Summer Olympics
- Athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Shot putters
- Discus throwers
- Mayors of Auckland
- Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Aerobic exercise