Why do athletes drink gallons of water?

why do athletes drink a gallon of water literly ?

so they dont get dehydrated.
=]

they'll get dehydrated...

yeah but I thought drinking a lot of water just makes you loose minerals in the process. its not like your getting all the minerals you loose from sweat, by drinking a lot of water. O_O plus dosnt that give cramping? It does to me so I avoid drinking water durring excersise. Or else ill get some seriouse cramps, even if I wait 10 mins or 20, I can feel the water bouncing all inside me.

well drinking water is better than drinkin soda's. and if they don't drink a lot of water they become dehydrated. I play a lot of sports, and I drink a lot of water. more than 8 bottles a day. I used to drink a lot of soda and stuff, but water makes me feel a lot better, so I drink more of it

water helps to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. lack of salt and stretching causes cramps...water will prevent cramps and keep you hydrated by protecting your joints. water removes more wastes than minerals in your body. The couple minerals it may remove isnt enough to affect you anyways.