BEING the partner of a sports star seems like the opening to a glamorous lifestyle -- world travel, vast wealth and high life among the rich and famous.

But for many, it is not the fairytale romance it first appears, and many couples end up in the divorce courts.

Former boxer Frank Bruno is the latest casualty -- his wife Laura has announced that they are set to divorce after 11 years of marriage.

But they're not alone. Other sports personalities have admitted their profession has put a strain on their relationships.

Colin Montgomerie, one of Europe's top golfers, has revealed that his obsessive desire to win nearly destroyed his 10-year marriage to wife Eimear.

She cheered him on, brought up their three children, talked him through the matches and provided encouragement and comfort.

Two thirds of the year he was away and when he was at home he was usually thinking about golf or working on business and charity commitments. The Montgomeries broke up in November, before reuniting at Christmas.

The couple have been frank about their problems with Eimear saying: "I got to the point where I thought everything was about Colin. We drifted apart. I became too independent.

"I wasn't travelling to so many tournaments, I had developed my own friends and Colin was head down in his career. I think it's a very common story, not just in sport but for anyone who is a high achiever."

He in turn said: "My desire was obviously getting in the way of family life ... eventually something had to give and I'm rather glad it was the golf and not my family."

Top sportspeople tend to be emotionally lacking because they channel all their energies into becoming the best in their field, according to consultant sports psychologist Jack Lamport-Mitchell.

"People who want to get to the top in their sport are more selfish because they have to be. To be an elite sportsperson you have got to give up a lot. You need to be single-minded and only interested in that goal, such as a world championship. Unless you have that mentality, you are not going to achieve your aim.

"Partners have to realise that they are not going to see much of the person they married. If they want the prestige and the money, they have to accept that."