- Jan 2 Craig James, American NFL running back and sports commentator (Pro Bowl 1985; New England Patriots; ABC, ESPN), born in Jacksonville, Texas
- Jan 6 Howie Long, American NFL tackle/actor/broadcaster (Broken Arrow), born in Somerville, Massachusetts
- Jan 8 Calvin Smith, American athlete, born in Bolton, Mississippi
- Jan 8 Shoaib Mohammad, Pakistani cricket batsman (45 Tests @ 44.34; 7 x 100; 63 ODIs; son of Hanif Mohammad), born in Karachi, Pakistan
- Jan 12 Andrea Carnevale, Italian soccer player (Napoli), born in Monte San Biagio, Italy
- Jan 13 Kelly Hrudey, Canadian NHL goalie, 1983-98 (NY Islanders; LA Kings), and broadcaster, born in Edmonton, Alberta
- Jan 13 Kent Hull, American football center (First-team All-Pro 1990, 91; Pro Bowl 1988, 89, 90; Buffalo Bills), born in Pontotoc, Mississippi (d. 2011)
- Jan 17 Maia Chiburdanidze, Soviet women's world chess champ, born in Kutaisi, USSR
Mark Messier (63 years old)
Jan 18 Canadian NHL Center (Edmonton, NY Rangers), born in Edmonton, Alberta
- Jan 18 Peter Beardsley, English footballer, born in Hexham, United Kingdom
- Jan 23 Fausto Gresini, Italian Grand Prix motorcycle racer (125cc World C'ship 1985, 87) and team manager (Aprilia Racing, Gresini MotoGP), born in Imola, Italy (d. 2021)
- Jan 23 Trey Junkin, American football tight end (Arizona Cardinals), born in Conway, Arkansas
- Jan 24 William Van Dijck, Belgian athlete, born in Leuven, Belgium
Wayne Gretzky (63 years old)
Jan 26 Canadian ice hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup 1984, 85, 87, 88; Hart Memorial Trophy [MVP] 1980–87, 89; Art Ross Trophy [scoring champion] 1981–87, 90, 91, 94; Edmonton Oilers, LA Kings), born in Brantford, Ontario
- Jan 27 Jean-Paul Banos, Lavelanet France, Canada sabre (Olympic 9/10-88, 92, 96)
- Jan 30 Ranjit Madurasinghe, Sri Lankan cricketer (3 Tests for Sri Lanka 1988-92), born in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
About January 1961
How Old? 63 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions