Russian cross country skiers put in a poor performance as they were not psychologically ready for the first ski race at the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Russia's skiing head coach said.

Russians pinned great hopes on its skiers at the Olympics in Canada, but on Monday the best results were the 7th place in women's 10 km free style Cross Country (Yevgeniya Medvedeva) and 9th place in the men's 15 km free style Cross Country (Maxim Vylegzhanin).

"They have not simply tuned in. We have nothing to complain about... It is all about us - coaches and athletes," Yury Charkovsky said.

He added that he was particularly worried for female skier Irina Khazova, a promising athlete of the Russian team, who finished 20th in the 10 km cross.

"She is crying now. A young athlete, who did not manage to cope with a heavy burden. She did not cope with it in a psychological way," he added.

Sweden's Charlotte Kalla took the gold, Estonia's Kristina Smigun-Vaehi took the silver and Norway's Marit Bjoergen took the bronze medals on Monday in women's 10 km cross.

WHISTLER, February 16 (RIA Novosti)