Shoma Uno gave Japan a strong start in the figure skating team competition Friday at the Beijing Winter Olympics, but the opening day belonged to the United States, led by men's singles gold medal favorite Nathan Chen.

The 22-year-old Chen earned his team the maximum score from the men's short program, while compatriots Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue placed first in ice dance rhythm dance to help the United States earn 28 of a possible 30 points at Beijing's Capital Indoor Stadium.

Shoma Uno of Japan performs in the men's short program of the figure skating team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 4, 2022, at the Capital Indoor Stadium. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The Russian Olympic Committee is placed second on 26, China third on 21, with Japan fourth on 20 following Uno's polished and poised performance in the men's short program.

The Pyeongchang Olympic men's singles silver medalist landed a pair of quadruple jumps and a triple axel on his way to a score of 105.46.

"I felt very calm. It was early in the morning (but) I was able to skate without breaking my movement," Uno said. "I fulfilled my responsibility."

Chen, who also exhibited a pair of quads and a triple axel, scored 111.71, while Russian skater Mark Kondratiuk placed third with 95.81.

Although his main focus is the singles competition, Chen said he is happy to help the U.S. team in its title defense.

"Either way is cool for me. I'm going to be practicing anyway, and am going to be doing this program anyway," Chen said.

"But that being said, we have a really strong team and we have a lot of chess pieces to play with."

Japan's ice dance duo of Misato Komatsubara and husband Takeru Komatsubara, also known as Tim Koleto, placed seventh in rhythm dance, with the ROC and Italy rounding out the top three behind the Americans.

Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara were fourth in the pairs short program topped by China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, with the ROC second and the United States third.

The teams competition continues Sunday with the women's short program and men's free skate.

Nathan Chen of the United States performs in the men's short program of the figure skating team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 4, 2022, at the Capital Indoor Stadium. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Riku Miura (L) and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan perform in the pair skating short program in the figure skating team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 4, 2022, at the Capital Indoor Stadium. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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