- Jan 2 Jean de Gribaldy, French road cyclist & team director (Frimatic - Viva, Miko, Sem - France Loire), dies at 64
- Jan 4 Jack Martin, cricketer (Eng pace bowler, 1-111 & 0-18 in Test), dies
- Jan 5 Herman Smith-Johannsen, Norwegian-born Canadian cross-country skier (b. 1875)
- Jan 8 Nana Joshi, Indian cricket wicket-keeper (12 tests, 27 dismissals, 1 x 50; Maharashtra CC), dies at 60
- Jan 10 Håkan Malmrot, Swedish swimmer (Olympic gold 200m & 400m breaststroke 1920), dies at 86
- Jan 20 Tom Dollery, cricketer (4 Tests for Eng 1947-50), dies
- Jan 27 Allison Danzig, American sports writer (tennis specialist), dies at 88
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