Story highlights Mel Robbins: When men achieve, we celebrate them; when women achieve, it's more complicated

We say: 'How DOES she do it?' instead, the higher women climb, the more personal critique they receive, she says

Mel Robbins is a CNN commentator, legal analyst, best-selling author and keynote speaker. She is a contributing editor for Success magazine. In 2014, she was named outstanding news talk-radio host by the Gracie Awards. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) It really irked me when Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu, (the "Iron Lady") obliterated the world record in the 400-meter individual medley and won three gold medals -- yet an announcer credited her husband as "the person responsible for her performance."

That'd be like the commentators calling Phelps "the fiancé of Miss California USA 2010" (his wife, Nicole, was Miss California) when he won his 20th gold medal. Can you imagine? Nope, neither can I.

Ok I don't appreciate her husband but whatever pic.twitter.com/vmjdSREdmW — Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) August 7, 2016

That's because we celebrate men and women who achieve remarkable success -- very differently. It's one of those unconscious biases that we can't see, but exists. When men achieve greatness, we celebrate the achievement. When women achieve greatness, we marvel, question and wonder how she achieved it "how DOES she do it?" It's a subtle but real difference.

Just imagine if Phelps were a woman. How different the tone and tenor would be in discussing her accomplishments -- and this could come particularly from women:

Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps -- the most decorated Olympian of all time -- celebrates with his gold medal after the 4x200 freestyle on Tuesday, August 9. Phelps has won 21 gold medals so far in his career (25 medals in all), and he's looking to add more to his collection in Rio de Janeiro. Hide Caption 1 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps competes in the 100-meter butterfly during the Rio Games. Hide Caption 2 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps celebrates after winning the 200-meter butterfly in Rio. The victory avenged a loss at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Hide Caption 3 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps takes part in a qualifying race in Rio for the 200-meter individual medley. Hide Caption 4 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps shows off his gold medal from the 200-meter medley at the London Olympics. It was his 20th career medal. Hide Caption 5 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps celebrates in 2012 after becoming the most-decorated Olympic athlete in history. He had just won his 19th medal after the 4x200 freestyle. Hide Caption 6 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps competes in the 200-meter butterfly in London. Hide Caption 7 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps celebrates with teammates after winning the 4x100 freestyle in London. Hide Caption 8 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps looks on during the 4x100 freestyle in London. Hide Caption 9 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps climbs out of the pool in London after a shock fourth-place finish in the 400-meter medley. Hide Caption 10 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps is hugged by teammate Ryan Lochte in 2008 after winning the 200-meter medley in Beijing. Phelps won eight gold medals in Beijing -- the most-ever in one Olympics. Hide Caption 11 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps sets a world record in the 200-meter butterfly in Beijing. Hide Caption 12 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps shouts encouragement to teammates in the 4x200 freestyle in Beijing. Hide Caption 13 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps won six gold and two bronze medals in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Here, he holds a bronze from the 200-meter freestyle. Hide Caption 14 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps celebrates winning gold in the 400-meter medley in 2004. It was his first Olympic gold, and it came in a world-record time of 4:08.26. Hide Caption 15 of 16 Photos: Phelps: All-time Olympic recordbreaker Phelps smiles after winning the 200-meter butterfly during the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004. Hide Caption 16 of 16

Michaela Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. 21 gold medals and counting. (By the way, who's watching her kids?) Multiple world records. (Wait, didn't she go to rehab?) And, her baby is way cuter than yours and already has an Instagram account with 200,000 followers! (What mother pimps their own kid? I bet those flag headphones he wore were from a sponsor!).

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