Virtue and Moir seize control as world champions falter

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

WORLD champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin dropped to third as Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir moved into pole position in the Olympic figure skating ice dance competition.

TONED DOWN: Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin toned down their costumes after criticism in Australia (Getty Images)

The Russians held a slender advantage after the compulsory dance but the judges clearly didn't warm to their controversial Aboriginal inspired original dance.

The routine had landed the pair in hot water earlier this year after their costumes were deemed offensive by indigenous groups in Australia.

Conscious the row would overshadow their Olympic preparations they bowed to pressure, making subtle changes by removing the geometric motifs and green leaves that had so angered Aboriginal leaders

"Maybe the old costume was too much," said Shabalin.

"We changed it a little bit and were are sorry for any offence. But we liked the costume and we did a big research before designing it. We love our program and our costume."

But their love was not shared by the judges, who ranked it third, meaning their compulsory dance lead evaporated as they dropped to the third step of the podium.

Virtue and Moir got the home crowd to their feet with a technically challenging Spanish Flamenco packed with high-scoring elements, moving up from their second place after the compulsories.

"We're very happy with our performance," said Moir.

"We enjoyed every second on the ice with the home crowd. It's been a very special experience for us."

The home favourites will take an advantage of just over two points into the free dance with US national champion Meryl Davis and Charlie White now occupying the silver medal place, while their American team-mates Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto are just outside the medals in fourth.

"It was an emotionally charged program," said White, after beating the reigning world champions by over five points. 

"It's one of those performances where you come out feeling greater than going in.

"We said we wanted to have fun, and we did. We gave everything we had in that program.

"This definitely gives us momentum to slide right into the free dance. We have real confidence."

Great Britain's Sinead and John Kerr produced a solid original dance but stuttered with their twizzles, which have been a recurring problem recently, as they failed to match their season's best.

The Scottish siblings still sit in eighth overall ahead of Tuesday's free dance while British team-mates Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland - who are making their senior international debut - are 20th.

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day ten of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver