Jan Stanisław Cyganiewicz (April 1, 1879 – September 23, 1967), better known by his ring name, Stanislaus Zbyszko, was a Polish strongman and professional wrestler. He was a three-time World Heavyweight Champion at his highest profile in the United States during the 1920s. The surname Zbyszko was only a nickname, given to him by friends due to his bravery when he was a child. The name comes from a fictional medieval Polish knight in the historical novel, The Knights of the Cross by Henryk Sienkiewicz (published in 1900). Stanislaus Zbyszko was the brother of Wladek Zbyszko (1891-1968). Early life Stanislaus Cyganiewicz was born on April 1, 1879 in Jodłowa near Kraków, Poland. A noted intellectual, he studied music, philosophy, and law while growing up in Vienna, Austria. Standing , Cyganiewicz was heavily built, weighing 260 pounds. He also possessed remarkable strength and joined the renowned Vindobona Athletic Club while in college, where he gradually developed an imposing physique. He also practiced in the Sokol (“Falcon”), a Polish patriotic gymnastic society, which centered on the physical, mental, and cultural advancement of the nation's citizens while instilling discipline and a love of country. Towards the end of the 19th century, Cyganiewicz first encountered the wrestling industry when he defeated an experienced grappler at a local circus in Poland. He was soon after recruited to Berlin by a local promoter. As fellow strongman George Hackenschmidt established himself as Europe's premier grappling star, Cyganiewicz was attracted to a career in wrestling as well. He was subsequently introduced to the professional game by the Polish grappler Władysław Pytlasiński, who eventually became his mentor. Wrestling career Over the next few years, Cyganiewicz gradually established himself among Europe's fastest-rising Greco-Roman wrestlers while competing in a number of tournaments; and by 1903, Health & Strength listed him among the continent's leading heavyweights. He eventually took the ring name Stanislaus Zbyszko; and in 1906, he battled Russia's "Cossack" Ivan Poddubny to a two-hour draw before then outlasting Georg Lurich and Constant le Marin to win a prestigious Paris tournament. He was next brought to England by Charles "C.B." Cochrane, who was previously Hackenschmidt's manager; and he engaged in a series of prominent encounters against Turkey's "Champion of the Bosphorus" Kara Suliman while performing at the London Pavilion and the Gibbons music halls. However, he was soon embroiled in a major controversy when Suliman was revealed to be Bulgaria's Ivan