Germans take the lead in pairs; Russians in dance

The European champions finished with 72.30 points, easily outpacing Russia's Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov (68.94). Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China are third with 67.42. The free skate is Wednesday.

Skating last to the theme of Lost in Space, their high-octane program was the polar opposite of the lyrical, elegant performances of the Russian and Chinese. They raced around the rink at a frenetic pace that made the audience tired just watching them, yet every single one of their elements was done with perfection.

Their triple twist was fantastic, and their throw triple flip was huge yet she landed it effortlessly. Their side-by-side triple toes were so fast they looked more like stones skipping across the water, off to yet another element.

The only drawback to their program was that half of the arena had already left by the time they took the ice at 11 p.m. local time.

Kawaguchi and Smirnov look as if they're ready to revive Russia's long tradition of excellence in pairs skating. A Russian or Soviet couple has stood atop the podium at every Olympics dating to 1964, but the program has fallen on hard times lately with just one medal — a bronze — at the last three world championships.

Kawaguchi looked surprised when their marks were posted and they were in first place with only the Germans left to skate. But it was a well-deserved finish. Skating to “The Swan,” Kawaguchi and Smirnov displayed the smoothness and elegance that have made Russian pairs so lovely to watch. They had exquisite detail, finishing every element right down to the tips of their fingers, and the landings on their throw triple loop was solid.

Earlier Tuesday, Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin won the compulsory dance to take the early lead in the ice dance competition. Their sharp and aggressive paso doble earned them 40.77 points. Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, in their first competition since Agosto injured his back, are second with 39.65 points. Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the reigning world silver medalists, are third.

The original dance is Thursday, and the free dance Friday.

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