- Jan 1 Pablo Cuevas, Uruguayan tennis player (French Open doubles 2008 [with Luis Horna]), born in Concordia, Argentina
- Jan 3 Jacob Timpano, Australian soccer player
- Jan 3 Liam Treadwell, English National Hunt jockey (Grand National 2009; 300+ race wins), born in Arundel, England (d. 2020)
- Jan 4 James Milner, English footballer, born in Wortley, Leeds
- Jan 4 Steve Slaton, American football player, born in Levittown, Pennsylvania
- Jan 6 Paul McShane, Irish footballer, born in Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
- Jan 7 Grant Leadbitter, English footballer, born in Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom
- Jan 8 David Silva, Spanish footballer, born in Arguineguín, Spain
- Jan 8 Peng Shuai, Chinese tennis player (1st Chinese player to reach No.1 ranking - doubles with Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan, 2014), born in Xiangtan, China
- Jan 13 Joannie Rochette, Canadian figure skater (Canadian C'ship gold singles 2005–10; Olympic bronze 2010; World C'ship silver 2009), born in La Visitation-de-l'Île-Dupas, Quebec
- Jan 14 Cristina Aicardi, Peruvian badminton player
- Jan 15 Fred Davis, American football player, born in Toledo, Ohio
- Jan 23 Steven Taylor, English footballer, born in Greenwich, London
- Jan 24 Sean McVay, American football coach (Super Bowl 2022 Los Angeles Rams), born in Dayton, Ohio
- Jan 26 Gerald Green, American basketball guard (NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion 2007, Minnesota Timberwolves; Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets), born in Houston, Texas
- Jan 28 Jessica Ennis, English athlete (Olympic gold heptathlon 2012; World C'ship gold 2009, 11, 15), born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
- Jan 29 Simon Vukčević, Montenegrin soccer midfielder (45 caps; Sporting CP, Blackburn Rovers), born in Podgorica, Montenegro
- Jan 31 Yves Makabu-Makalambay, Congolese football goalkeeper, born in Brussels, Belgium
About January 1986
How Old? 38 years old
Generation: Millennial
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions