By Simon Evans

BEIJING (Reuters) - For most Olympians the question of motivation is a simple one -- it is all about the glory of gold.

"The medal around my neck was my motivation," said Britain's Rebecca Adlington simply after winning swimming gold in the 400 meters freestyle on Monday and it is the most commonly cited driving force.

But even the best sometimes need a little something extra to help them get out of bed in the morning and put in another day of monotonous training or produce that little bit extra in competition that can make the difference.

They find it in varying methods and emotions.

U.S swimmer Michael Phelps keeps a newspaper clipping of Australian Ian Thorpe's comments, suggesting that he could not win eight gold medals in Beijing, next to his bed and in his changing room locker.

"That's something that's definitely there for me to see and get me motivated and more excited," Phelps said recently.

Australian Libby Trickett, gold medalist in the 100 meters butterfly, makes sure she has something to spark her spirit in most rooms of her house.

"I like to have little quotes and goals stuck up around the house as a personal reminder of what I'm working towards," Trickett said.

"I have them stuck up in the bedroom and in the study so I can see them every day. When I look at them I can go, 'OK, that's what I'm working towards and I've got to keep working towards those things'.

FAVOURITE QUOTE

"My favorite quote is, 'They never said it would be easy. They just said it would be worth it'. They are just little reminders so that if you are hurting a bit that day, you can pick yourself up," she told the Herald-Sun newspaper.

American Dara Torres, a silver medalist in the 4x100 meters freestyle relay at the age of 41, is one of several competitors fired by the desire to show the Games is not just for young athletes.

Torres also says that being told she is an inspiration to others helped her to keep working towards her goal.

"I feel like I'm getting motivated by people my age telling me how I'm motivating them," she said recently.

"I'm inspired by all the people calling me and telling me their stories. I'm getting pumped up about it," Torres said.

There are other sources for that little extra something, such as patriotism and that powerful driver of emotion -- revenge.

British rower Katherine Grainger was disappointed to lose the final of the World Championships in quadruple scull to Russia on home water at Eton Dorney in 2006 and furious when one of Russia's rowers was later found to have failed a drugs test.

Although the team were given the title, the delay meant they missed out on the joy of celebrating in front of their home support and Grainger said recently she wants vengeance.

"I saw the Russians in Seville this winter," she said. "I was surprised at my reaction, they gave me motivation and energy to do well this year. They took winning in front of our home crowd away from us and we want our revenge."

Serbian volleyball player Ivan Miljkovic says that passion for the sport itself is what kept him sticking at a career that offered little financial reward during his country's difficult years.

"My love for the sport and my determination to achieve my objectives kept me going," he told Reuters recently.

"When I was in primary school, I really enjoyed swimming, tennis and handball too. But I always loved volleyball more than any other sport and I honestly believe that complete and unequivocal commitment is a basic prerequisite for success whatever you do for a living," he said.

(editing by Jon Bramley)