Russia led the technical routine of synchronized swimming team event at London Games on Thursday, one step closer to claim their fourth consecutive Olympic title.

Team Russia performed a meticulously executed Russian Dance theme with lasting underwater legwork and solidly controlled lifts that placed them comfortably ahead of their rivals.

They finished first in the technical program with 98.10 points, beating China who posted a second place with 97 points.

"It was a brand new routine and we've only been working on it for a year. We are obviously very satisfied with our performance today," said Russian swimmer Elvira Khasyanova.

The Chinese, bronze medallists of Beijing Games, need to keep their rhythm up in the free routine in order to finish ahead of Spain who are third in the technical routine with 96.200 and are traditionally stronger in free routines.

Team China's Japanese coach Masayo Imura said it will be hard to narrow the gap with Russian but possible to hold off Spain to take a silver.

"The defeat in the duet by Spain made Team China as one. We were very disappointed with that result and are determined to do better in the team event," she said.

China pocketed a bronze medal in the deut event with 0.03 point gap to Spain who settled for a silver.

Accompanied by the folk guitar song Tamacun, Team Spain, silver medallists at Beijing Games, intrigued the audience with their passionate interpretation. Their performance constantly switched between controlled technical elements and speedy pattern changes.

The fast pace of their routine was unmatched even by Russia as well as China, although they lacked the same precision in their technical elements execution.

Team Spain will try to repeat their overturn of the Chinese to mount to the second place in the free routine on Friday, just like what they did in the deut event.

The final ranking will be decided by the sum of the scores of Thursday's technical routine and Friday's free routine.

Synchronized swimming made its Olympic debut in 1984. The sport includes duet and team competitions and both formats include a technical and free routine.

Russia has swept all of the gold medals in deut and team events from Sydney Games.