- Jan 1 Åke Seyffarth, Swedish speed skater (Olympic gold 10,000m 1948; WR 3,000 & 5,000m), dies at 78
Helen Wills Moody (1905-1998)
Jan 1 American tennis player (19 Grand Slam titles), dies of natural causes at 92
- Jan 5 David Bairstow, English cricket wicket keeper, broadcaster (4 Tests, 13 dismissals; father of England Test 'keeper Jonny; Yorkshire CCC), dies from suicide at 46
- Jan 5 Wilhelm Herz, German motorcycle racer (first to 200mph), dies at 85
- Jan 11 C V Gadkari, Indian cricket batsman (6 Tests, 1 x 50; Maharashtra, Services), dies at 69
- Jan 16 Lionel Birkett, West Indian cricket batsman (4 Tests, 1 x 50; Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago), dies at 92
- Jan 21 Larry Gilbert, American golfer (Senior Players Championship 1997), dies of lung cancer at 55
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Boxers
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Tennis Champions