Pierre Strauwen was an early member of the Cercle de Natation de Bruxelles and was an all-around competitor, competing in swimming, water polo and diving. He won the Belgian championship for breaststroke in 1907, and was selected for the Belgian delegation to the 1908 Olympic Games held in London. There, he competed in the 200 metres breaststroke event alongside Félicien Courbet, but did not advance past the heats. Strauwen later served as a vice president of the club, and was a successful restaurateur by career. His grandfather, Pierre Strauwen (1836–1890), was a noted musician and the namesame of rue Pierre Strauwen in Laeken.