TURIN -- The two-for-two Russians in Olympic figure skating were upset by the hosts yesterday in the first stage of the ice dancing competition at Palavela.
Italians Barbara Fusar Poli and Maurizio Margaglio stand first after the compulsory dance of the Ravensburger Waltz with 38.78 points.
They are just over half a point ahead of Russians Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, the reigning world champions.
The top Canadian dancers, Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, are fourth with 37.44 points, while teammates Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe are 12th (31.42 point).
Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria sit third (37.65).
Dubreuil said this waltz is not one they have skated often.
"It's a dance we haven't done this season. I got my dress made in four days when we knew we were doing the waltz."
The Ravensburger Waltz is a light and elegant dance, meant to be performed gracefully, yet powerfully.
The Italians, who came out of retirement to perform in the Olympics on home ice, were confident.
"We are not scared of anyone," Margaglio said. "We came back to be competitive with the best skaters and now we are here."
Navka, too, was pleased: "We are so happy; we did our best performance."
Kingston-born skater Tanith Belbin, who recently became a U.S. citizen, and her partner Benjamin Agosto are in sixth spot with 37.36 points. Belbin and Agosto won the silver medal at the 2005 world championship.
Only 1.42 points separate first from sixth.
"I think this will be the most interesting ice dancing competition we've ever seen," Dubreuil said.
The original dance will be contested today.
Russians Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin won the pairs skating title on Monday while teammate Evgeni Plushenko won the men's gold on Thursday.