- Jan 2 Fausto Coppi, Italian cyclist (Giro d'Italia 1940, 47, 49, 52-53; Tour de France 1949, 52; World Championship gold Individual pursuit 1947, road race 1953), dies from malaria at 40
- Jan 5 Donald Knight, cricketer (54 runs in 2 Tests for England 1921), dies
- Jan 7 Dorothea Lambert Chambers, British tennis player (Wimbledon 1903-04, 06, 10-11, 13-14), dies at 81
- Jan 10 Jack Laviolette, Canadian ice hockey player, dies at 80