BEIJING - Russia placed first in the technical routine of the synchronized swimming team event Friday, staying on course to sweep both the duet and team event for the third straight Olympics.
The team was awarded a near-perfect 49.500 points. Spain was second with 48.917 points and China was third with 48.584.
The Canadian team, featuring Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon of Riviere-Du-Loup, Que., Jessika Dubuc of Mercier, Que., Marie-Pierre Gagne of Montreal, Dominika Kopcik of Surrey, B.C., Eve Lamoureux of Montreal, Tracy Little of Pointe-Claire, Que., Elise Marcotte of Ancienne-Lorette, Que., and Jennifer Song of Calgary, finished in a tie for fifth with the U.S. at 47.584.
Canada performed to "They call me Mr. Tibbs" by Britt-King and "Oh Yeah" by Yello, while the Americans used a "Godfather" remix.
The team event concludes Saturday with the free routine.
Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova won gold in the duet Wednesday and are also part of Russia's eight-woman squad for the team event.
Wearing suits with red hearts on the front and silver-sequined lightning bolts on the backs, the Russians showed off their superior throws, lifts and splits to the "Spanish Suite" by Albenise.
The music choice may have been a response to the decision by the Spanish duet to use traditional Russian music in their technical routine Monday.
Spain dethroned Russia at the 2007 World Trophy Cup, but Russia has won gold at the past two Olympics and past five world championships.
The Russian team had not competed since last year's World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, and its new routine was created behind closed doors.
Besides the Anastasias, the other members of Russia's team are: Maria Gromova, Natalia Ishchenko, Elvira Khasyanova, Olga Kuzhela, Elena Ovchinnikova and Svetlana Romashina.
Russia earned all 9.9's and one 9.8 for both execution and overall impression.
Spain performed to the "Happy Feet" soundtrack and won a big applause for a unique windmill move.
Gemma Mengual and Andrea Fuentes won Spain's first Olympic synchro medal when they claimed silver in the duet.
Japan, which has won medals in synchro in every Olympics since the discipline was introduced at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, placed fourth.
