Sasha Belhov is an intriguing combination of the best coach that ever lived and the greatest jerk who ever walked the face of the planet.He begins his first WEEKEND practice with the four elite female gymnasts of the Rock by asking them to write down whatever they are most embarrassed for the other three to know about them--and then reading them aloud to the group! The second half of the practice consists of group bonding via manual labor, as Sasha demands the four girls clean the mats covering the floor of the entire gym.He is harsh, bossy at times, and a definite know-it-all. He irritates the girls all the more because he is always right about the best course of action for them to take. Whether he is urging Payson to wait before trying out for the Olympic Trials, urging Kaylie not to attempt a Double Arabian, urging Lauren to get her head in the game and off boys, or urging Emily to learn how to trust and depend on people again, his advice is always spot-on.Unfortunately, the girls do not always listen to Sasha. Payson tries out for the Olympic Trials prematurely, and does not make the cut--all but disqualifying her for a spot on the team at the next Olympic Games. Kaylie continues to attempt the double Arabian, and loses ten pounds she does not have to spare in order to make it work. Emily becomes secretive about her family's financial troubles and refuses to ask for help; her pride leads to an eventual arrest for stealing her brother's medication, and a further arrest from the Rock after she misses her court date to make the World Trials. Lauren has sex regularly with Kaylie's ex-boyfriend Carter, and manipulates and schemes one woman [Chloe Kemetko, Emily's mother] out of her father's life and another [Summer] back in. After this series of bad decisions, unfortunate circumstances, and pain that Sasha cannot protect the young women from, he begins to believe he cannot help them and eventually leaves town.The other half of Sasha's decision to leave town following the end of the first half of season two comes about as the result of his close relationship with Payson Keeler, one of his gymnasts. After Payson injures her back, Sasha is the only one who continues to encourage Payson to get back on her feet and back to the sport.He remains determined to find a way for her to come back from an injury every doctor she originally consults claims permanently bars her from participation in gymnastics. Eventually, he encourages her to do the surgery which ultimately ensures her recovery.Throughout the process of making her comeback, Payson begins to necessarily depend on Sasha. This becomes even more necessary when they both realize that Payson cannot return as the 'power gymnast' she once was, for she has grown an inch and gained curves during her time away from the sport. Instead, Sasha encourages her to begin to view herself as an 'artistic' gymnast. Payson is hesitant at first, but under his patient and insistent tutelage, she comes to trust him and then his vision of her.This trust and the necessity behind it combines with the urgency involved in preparing Payson to compete in the World Games as a completely different gymnast with totally different routines from the 'power' moves which previously determined her greatness to form a unique bond between Sasha and Payson. He takes her out to a ballet and introduced her to his friend, one of the ballerina, in order to help her to recognize her own capacity for grace and beauty. He loans her one of his four gold medals to help lift her spirits over not being able to compete in National Team practices with the other young women. She cooks him stuffed peppers, a trademark dish of his native country. They begin to integrate hugs into their daily routine.Then during a late-night practice with just Sasha in the gym, she finally gets her new 'artistic' routine precisely perfect--and kisses him. After he pushes her away, she runs from the gym. He calls her mother to speak about it, and eventually gives her a speech about his own closeness with his coach. They decide to move on, together, without awkwardness. She has not confronted her crush head-on, and is more tight-lipped about her feelings than ever before; he is no master of emotional expression either, and doesn't call her out on it.All is well--up until Lauren Tanner finds the videotape that has been recording at the time and sees the kiss. Being Lauren, and only out for herself, she sends in the tape to Ellen Beals.Lauren also hopes to improve her father's chances of winning the competition against Payson Keeler's mom for leader of the board of Rock parents. She also wants to encourage Summer, who had been dating Sasha, to give her father, her previous fiancee, another chance. Sure enough, she is by the end of season 2 successful.Ellen Beals, a long-time foe of Sasha's, uses her position as Head of the National Gymnastics Committee to encourage a vote to remove Sasha from his post as Head Coach at the Rock. She is successful in her efforts.Sasha leaves Payson a letter, encouraging her to believe in her ability to do anything she wants badly enough. Show less «