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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb 19 (AFP) - American icon Michelle Kwan took the first step towards claiming the women's Olympic gold here on Tuesday when she edged ahead of Russian rival Irina Slutskaya by a 5-4 split decision of the judges after the opening short programme.

American teenagers Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes were snapping at their heels in third and fourth position respectively in the first of two legs of the Olympic figure skating competition which counts for a third of the marks.

"I love competing with skaters like Michelle and Sarah, it's so nice. You feel here a 'War on Ice'," said Slutskaya.

Russia's former world champion Maria Butyrskaya is lying fifth with the 29-year-old's dream of Olympic gold over, amid a top class field where there were no major faults by the leaders during their two-and-a-half minute routines.

Despite hundreds of camera flashes going off throughout her programme, Olympic silver medallist Kwan, wearing a striking purple costume with gold threading designed by Vera Wang, skated cleanly to East of Eden.

After firing long-time coach Frank Carroll last October, Kwan is going it alone, but looked at ease in the Salt Lake Ice Center with her father Danny by her side in the kiss and cry as she awaited her marks.

"He basically said 'Just go out and have fun'," said Kwan of the advice he gave her.

"I felt America behind me and it was incredible," said the four-time world champion.

She scored less highly than three-time world silver medallist Slutskaya for required elements with marks ranging from 5.5 to one 5.9s, which resulted in a barrage of rowdy whistles from the spectators.

But the over-enthusiastic fans were placated when their idol scored the top marks of all nine judges for presentation with a string of 5.9s.

"Ooooh, I didn't like the technical marks, but I did like the artistic marks," said Kwan. "It's a close call ... we're seeing a lot of 5-4 aren't we? I like it in my favour."

Slutskaya was far superior to Kwan for athletism, jumping and spinning with ease to Schubert's Serenade. Her marks ranged from 5.6 to 5.8 for technique, but she scored just two 5.9s for presentation.

Kwan received top votes from five judges - German, Slovak, Danish, Italian and United States, while Slutskaya was placed first by the Russian, Belarus, Finnish and Canadian judges.

Surprisingly the United States, Italian and German judges put Slutskaya in third behind Cohen.

But the competition is far from over with Slutskaya having beaten Kwan six times in the past two years. The Muscovite has also hired a ballet instructor and choreographer which has improved her artistic presentation and she leads Kwan 3-0 since September.

Slutskaya finished fifth in Nagano and the 23-year-old is determined not to miss her chance here. "I was injured there and everything was sleepy. Here I am ready to fight," added Sluskaya, who was dropped from the Russian team in 1999 for lack of motivation.

But she also has to contend with another top jumper and spinner, Cohen, who is making her return following a back injury which kept her out last season.

The 17-year-old was light and breezy in her waltz from the soundtrack My Sweet and Tender Beast with marks ranging from 5.5 to one 5.8 for required elements, and six 5.8s for presentation.

"When I got onto the ice I couldn't believe it was finally here. The moment I waited for my whole life," said Cohen.

The American vice-champion is within striking distance of gold and warned that she would not give up without a fight.

"I was nervous before but when I got on the ice I wasn't nervous at all. I just felt absolutely calm, no pressure. I just thought to myself 'you have one chance, I don't want any regrets and fight for everything."

"Everything is on track so far and I just want to keep it together on Thursday," added Cohen.

Hughes also performed all the required elements cleanly to Ave Maria, but her marks for technique ranged from 5.1 to 5.6, and presentation from 5.5 to 5.7, with the Russian judge ranking her just 10th.

"I'm really happy with my skate," said Hughes. "It meant a lot to skate well on front of all these people who support me. This is my home."

America have one of their strongest women's teams ever, led by 21-year-old Kwan, a six-time US champion, who has still to win an Olympic gold medal.

And with a line-up completed by Cohen and sixteen-year-old Hughes, the US are counting on their women to bring home the goods after winning just one medal here, Timothy Goebel's bronze.

Japan's Fumie Suguri was the second skater on the ice and finished in seventh position.

"There's nothing I can do about it. God must have wanted it this way," said Suguri.

The short programme counts for a third of the marks with Thursday's free skating final which counts for the remaining two-thirds set to be a thriller with Butryskaya drawn first on the ice in the last group, followed by Hughes, Julia Sebestyen of Hungary, Cohen, Kwan, and Slutskaya.

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