Blog

From hospital wards to world championships: Francis's ultimate frisbee journey

When Francis Collin first watched a television programme featuring ultimate frisbee in the 1990s, he could never have imagined the sport would one day see him representing Great Britain.

Now a consultant in geriatric medicine at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Francis has spent more than 30 years playing ultimate frisbee, balancing his passion for the sport with a busy clinical career.

After seeing ultimate frisbee featured on television, he bought a frisbee and began playing with friends. What started as a casual interest soon developed into something much bigger when he joined a team while studying at university.

"It was at university that I really got into the sport," Francis said. "I loved the competitive side of it, but what really stood out was the teamwork."

Ultimate frisbee is a fast-paced, non-contact sport that combines athleticism, strategy and collaboration. For Francis, the team aspect has remained one of the key reasons he continues to play more than three decades later.

"The thing I enjoy most about frisbee is that everybody has a role to play. Success comes from working together and supporting each other."

Those are values he sees reflected every day in his role within the elderly medicine team.

Having worked at Northumbria Healthcare since 2015, Francis understands the importance of teamwork in delivering high-quality patient care.

"Healthcare is all about people coming together with different skills and expertise to achieve the best outcomes for patients. There are a lot of similarities between that and playing in a successful sports team."

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis joined a Great Britain masters ultimate frisbee team, giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of the sport. Since then, he has represented his country at European Championships and World Beach Championships.

The sport has also allowed him to travel extensively, with competitions taking him to destinations including Sweden and Portugal.

However, one location stands above the rest. "My favourite place I've visited through frisbee is Hawaii, where I played in the World Club Championships in 2002. It was an amazing experience and one I'll always remember."

Francis has celebrated lots of achievements throughout his Frisbee career, this includes winning the Gold medal at the European Championships and Bronze at the World Championships.

Closer to home, Francis continues to play for a Newcastle-based team. Training remains an important part of his weekly routine, with two team sessions each week alongside regular running to maintain the fitness levels needed for competition.

His commitment to staying active extends beyond sport and is something that closely aligns with his professional interests.

As a consultant in geriatric medicine, Francis sees first-hand the impact that physical activity can have on people's health and wellbeing throughout their lives. He is also a member of the trust's Lifelong Care group, which focuses on ensuring people receive the right care and support at every stage of life.