CHINA AT THE OLYMPICS: Shen and Zhao draw first

Posted: Feb 12, 5:53p ET | Updated: Feb 13, 2:18a ET

VANCOUVER (AFP) -- Two-time Olympic bronze medalists Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo will skate first in Sunday's short program, while the rest of the top pairs teams don't go until the last two groups.

Shen and Zhao retired after winning their third world title in 2007, but are back in hopes of finally winning Olympic gold. They quickly established themselves as the team to beat.

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, winners of the last two world titles, will skate last. Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao , silver medalists in Turin; Pang Qing and Tong Jian , the 2006 world champions; and Canadian champions Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison are also in the final group.

European champions Yuko Kavaguti and Aleksandr Smirnov skate 16th.

U.S. champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett will skate fourth with fellow Americans Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig eighth.

View AFP Article on NBC Olympics