The Australian swimming team has been struck down with food poisoning at the World Cup in Paris.

Twelve of the 16 swimmers and several coaches including Ian Thorpe's new coach Tracey Menzies came down with vomiting and diarrhoea at the team hotel on the eve of the first day of competition.

"We're in a bad way," national team head coach Greg Hodge said.

Thorpe was one of the few to escape the bug, powering his way this morning into the final of the men's 100 metre freestyle.

His time of 48.65 seconds was the third fastest behind arch rival Pieter van den Hoogenband and Algerian Salim Iles.

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