A connecting rod having a small end and a large end, the small end including a pin bore defined by a pin bore surface. A thermal spray coating applied to at least a portion of the pin bore surface and a method of applying the thermal spray coating to the pin bore surface using a thermal spray technique.

A rolling bearing includes a first raceway ring having a first raceway surface, a second raceway ring having a second raceway surface, and a plurality of rolling elements held between the first raceway surface and the second raceway surface in a freely rollable manner. An oxide film containing Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 is provided on at least one of surfaces of the first raceway surface and the second raceway surface and surfaces of the rolling elements. A film thickness of the oxide film is 0.6 m or more and 2.0 m or less. A crystallite size calculated from a peak attributable to the (311) plane of the Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 is 2.5 nm or more and 3.2 nm or less.