- Jan 1 Arthur Porritt, New Zealand athlete (Olympic bronze 100m 1924) and 11th governor-general of New Zealand 1967-72, dies at 93
- Jan 5 Brian Johnston, British cricket commentator (BBC radio commentator & cake connoisseur), dies at 81
- Jan 8 Harvey Haddix, American baseball pitcher (12 perfect inning game), dies at 68
- Jan 10 Charles "Chub" Feeney, American MLB executive (President of the National League), dies at 72
- Jan 17 Helen Stephens, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m & 4x100m relay 1936), dies at 75
- Jan 17 Klaas Peereboom, Dutch sports reporter (Het Parool), dies at 77
- Jan 20 Matt Busby, Scottish soccer forward (Manchester City, Liverpool) and manager (Manchester United 1945-69, 70–71; Scotland 1958), dies from cancer at 84
- Jan 29 Ulrike Maier, Austrian alpine skier (World C'ship gold Super-G 1989, 91), dies of a broken neck from accident during World Cup event in Germany at 26
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