Chataway, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995, died today at a hospice in London after more than two years fighting cancer, son Mark said.
He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, and acted as a pacemaker to help Roger Bannister become the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier in 1954.
In the same year, Chataway won the three miles race at the Commonwealth Games.
Chataway began a career as a newcaster with Independent Television News in 1955, and then had spells in the House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party.