By LAURENCE ROSEN

Arguably the highlight of London 2012 for the entire Australian Olympic Team, Sally Pearson’s 110m hurdles gold medal came at a time when the country was looking for a positive in the sea of negativity that emanated from those Games.

Four years later, the focus in track and field events has shifted to multiple athletes who, while not strong medal chances at these Games, are rapidly improving across the board. Pearson can't take part because of a hamstring tear.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) banned Russia from the Rio program in the wake of its indefinite ban for state-sanctioned doping.

While questions remain as to why the entire Russian team was not kicked out of the Rio Olympics, the nation was barred from just two sports - athletics and weightlifting.

HISTORY

Ever since humans decided they could competitively run, the sport of athletics has existed at some basic level. Basic events based on running, walking, jumping and throwing can be traced back to the ancient Olympic Games in 776BC.

The sport has been part of the modern Olympic movement since it began in 1896 when 12 disciplines were contested, ranging from the 100m sprint to the marathon.

Australia also has a rich Olympic history in athletics. Edwin Flack won the nation's first Olympic gold at the 1896 Games, taking out both the 800m and 1500m events.

After swimming, it’s Australia’s most successful sport at the summer games with a total of 71 medals being won over 30 Olympiads.

KEY ATHLETES - THE WORLD

Usain Bolt – Jamaica
What more is there to say about Usain Bolt? Already one of the greatest sprinters of all time, he heads to Rio defending the 100m, 200m and 4x100m races at an Olympics for a second time. He looks to have shaken off an injury scare that forced him to pull out of the Jamaican trials but a few question marks remain over his fitness as Rio draws closer. Likely to be his final Olympic Games,  defending all three titles would ensure he goes down as one of the best to have ever graced the track.

Mo Farah – Great Britain
Mo Farah was arguably the story for Team GB at their home Olympics in London last time out as he stormed to victory in both the 5000 and 10,000m. He’s followed up that stellar form with another two gold medals at the 2015 World Championships - only a brave person would bet against him doing the same in Rio. He looks one of GB’s best chances for gold in athletics.

David Rudisha – Kenya
Reigning 800m Olympic champion David Rudisha is back again to defend his title, but poor form in the Kenyan trials will give his rivals hopes of snatching the crown. His efforts in London broke the world record and while winning the title again at the World Championships in 2015, Rudisha’s downturn in form means the 800m final looks to be a standout on the athletics program. However, never count someone like Rudisha out and there would be few shocked faces if he were to become a double Olympic champion in Rio.

KEY ATHLETES - AUSTRALIA

Fabrice Lapierre looms as the main athlete to look out for from an Australia medal perspective as he takes part in the long jump competition. Lapierre notched up his fourth Diamond League podium for the year in early June and with reigning Olympic champion Greg Rutherford looking a strong chance to defend his place at the top of the dais, Lapierre will be quietly confident of winning a maiden Olympic medal.

Elsewhere, Dani Samuels (discus), Brooke Stratton (long jump), Alana Boyd (pole vault), and Kathryn Mitchell (javelin) are all highly ranked in their respective events and will be worth watching out for.

Meanwhile on the road, eventual 2012 Olympic gold medallist Jared Tallent remains a good chance of repeating his effort in the 50km walk. As the Russians are banned from the meet in Rio, Tallent will be looking to repeat history without the drugs cloud hanging over the race.

PREDICTIONS

Things look a little thin on the ground in terms of Australian success on the track. Lapierre is a huge chance of a medal but will have to overcome Olympic champion Rutherford if he hopes to secure gold.

A number of athletes are close to medal contention, and success from someone like Samuels or Stratton would lift the entire team.

Tallent should win the 50km walk again on the road and should not be ruled out of medal contention in the 20km walk.

Anything above two medals would be considered a successful Games for an Australian athletics team missing the star power of Sally Pearson.